Barnt Green driver who died in crash was over the limit

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A BARNT Green man who died after a head-on road crash was one-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit and not wearing his seatbelt, an inquest has heard.

James Ansell, of Barnt Green Road, was pronounced dead at the scene after the crash on Kendal End Road on November 4, last year which involved his Peugeot 206 and a Volkswagen Beetle.

The court heard how, earlier that day, the 31-year-old had been drinking with friends at the Barnt Green Inn when he went back to the home of Victoria Hodge, who he was in a relationship with, about 9.30pm.

An hour after being helped to bed, Mr Ansell was awoken by Ms Hodge who said he had been snoring loudly and offered to make him up a bed downstairs.

He then decided to leave the house and, unbeknown, to Ms Hodge, had got into his car.

Evidence showed, shortly after that, Mr Ansell's car was travelling along Kendal End Road, towards Cofton Hackett, when it crossed over onto the other side of the road and hit the Beetle, which was going towards Barnt Green.

Findings from a West Mercia Police traffic collision expert revealed Mr Ansell's Peugeot was travelling at least 49mph at the time of impact and the Beetle was going at least 34mph. The speed limit on the stretch of Kendal End Road where the incident happened is 40mph. There were no marks on the road surface, which was in good condition, and Mr Anstell had not been wearing his seatbelt.

A post-mortem was carried out on Mr Ansell and a toxicology report revealed he had 136mg of alcohol per one litre of blood - the legal limit to drive is 80mg.

Ellesse Robins, the driver of the Beetle, told the inquest when she saw Mr Ansell's car she felt he was going too fast and added there were just three car lengths between the vehicles when the Peugeot crossed onto the side of the road she was travelling on, giving her little or no time to react or apply the brakes.

Worcestershire Coroner Geraint Williams put the crash down to alcohol and excessive speed and returned a verdict of accidental death.