A13 Rainham Valentine's Day crash victim named in court

A coroner named the man as 45-year-old Kalin Hadzhiev, a Bulgarian man who lived in Swiftsure Road, Chafford Hundred in Essex.

Dr Shirley Radcliffe told East London Coroner’s Court Mr Hadzhiev had been driving a Honda eastbound, near the Ferry Lane junction, on February 14.

“A black Audi travelling west at speed lost control and clipped another vehicle, which caused it to skid, launching it over the central reservation,” she said.

The Audi collided with Mr Hadzhiev’s Honda Jazz.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by a doctor from the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS).

The coroner said the entire incident had been captured by “clear CCTV” and dash cam footage, which "shows the lead up to and the eventual collision”.

Before Friday’s court hearing, Mr Hadzhiev had been named by loved ones only as Kalin, as they launched an online fundraising page to support his family.

It described him as “a man with an enormous soul, who was always with us, showing kindness, honesty and love. He was a true example of selflessness, always helping anyone in need without expecting anything in return.”

The page – which has raised almost £8,000 – said he was survived by his wife and two children.

Dr Radcliffe said a post-mortem examination, conducted by CT scan, had given Mr Hadzhiev’s cause of death as “multiple severe traumatic injuries”.

“Clearly there is a significant police investigation,” she told the court.

“We should adjourn the inquest until we have further details from the police.”

An inquest was opened last week into the death of a second man – the passenger in the black Audi – who was named as Laimonas Narvydas, 37, of Cross Road, Collier Row.

The driver of the black Audi was hospitalised with life-changing injuries.

*The Metropolitan Police have urged witnesses to the collision, or anybody who might have relevant dash cam footage, to dial 101 and quote the reference CAD 4979/14Feb.

A man in his mid-40s was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and released on bail until late March.