A DRIVER killed in a road accident near Bromyard was nearly three times the drink-drive limit, an inquest heard.

Simon Phillips, from Bredenbury, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on the A44 on December 18 after his Peugeot 405 veered into the path of an oncoming car.

Pathology tests showed Mr Phillips, aged 40, to have 229mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in his body.

The legal limit is 80mg.

Christopher Thornton, a friend of Mr Phillips and the passenger in the car, told a Hereford inquest in a written statement that he had been dropped off at Mr Phillips’ house on the evening of the crash, where the pair had “smoked some dope”.

Mr Thornton said he also noticed four or five empty beer cans, but couldn’t remember anything after that, other than waking up in hospital.

Lorna Davis, who was driving towards Leominster that night, said she saw headlights approaching on her side of the road near a bend.

She said she braked hard but the Peugeot still hit her car.

Tests carried out by accident investigator PC David Sidley showed the speedometer on Mr Phillips’ Peugeot had frozen on 87mph, although he stressed it couldn’t be said that this was the speed he was travelling on impact.

Ms Davis’ Peugeot was said to be travelling at around 40mph on impact.

“The bend was not significantly tight,” said PC Sidley.

“At the national speed limit you should be able to negotiate it.”

Pathologist Carol Caldwell said Mr Phillips died of multiple injuries.

Deputy county coroner Mark Bricknell said no blame for the collision lay with Ms Davis.

He recorded a verdict of accidental death.