Former Albion player reserve dies in crash

A former West Bromwich Albion reserves player died when he lost control of his new car while speeding and over the drink drive limit, an inquest heard.

Father-of-six Brian Haynes, who played for Baggies as an inside right in the 1950s, was behind the wheel of a Ford Mondeo which mounted the pavement and collided with bollards before overturning.

The 77-year-old was one-and-a-half times over the limit at the time and exempt from wearing a seatbelt following a stomach operation.

He was partially ejected from the blue car and suffered head and brain injuries. An inquest at Smethwick Council House yesterday heard a seatbelt might have saved him. Recording a verdict of accidental death, assistant deputy coroner Clive Loynes said it was a tragic loss.

"While we can't be absolutely sure what happened, it seems clear to me the cause of the collision was solely due to the driving of Mr Haynes, who chose to drive the car in excess of the speed limit," he said.

The inquest heard Mr Haynes, of Railway Terrace in Wednesbury, had been doing up to 55mph in Holloway Bank, West Bromwich, when he lost control on a bend just after midnight on February 2. The speed limit is 30mph. Francis Ward Close resident Chris Parker, whose bedroom overlooks Holloway Bank, was in bed chatting to his wife when he was alerted to the commotion outside.

"As we were talking I could hear a car coming," Mr Parker told yesterday's inquest.

"As it was getting closer it sounded like it was getting faster. All of a sudden, I heard this bang. I looked out the window and saw this car going through the air."

Evidence from police revealed two street lights were out at the time of the crash as well as a defective braking component in the car. But neither of these were deemed to be significant factors in the cause of the crash.

Mr Haynes's son, also called Brian Haynes, told the inquest his father had only bought the car earlier that day. He said he had been starting to lose his memory and was considering moving him to sheltered accommodation.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Haynes described his father, who worked in the RAF after quitting Albion, as a hard working man.

"He did not drink in excess," he said.

"He probably had two on the night and that pushed him over the limit."