'Drunk' driver who died in horror crash 'was not wearing seatbelt'

James O’Brien sped along Stallings Lane, Kingswinford, on the way home from being seen ‘drunk’ at the Horse and Jockey in Wall Heath.

The 28-year-old landscape gardener overtook a vehicle on the 30mph limit single lane carriageway and then soon afterwards turned left into Ham Lane on the way home to his address on Oak Lane nearby.

But the manoeuvre caused his blue Renault Scenic to under-steer, collide into the kerb, tip on to the driver side and rest up against a metal sign at the junction.

Mr O’Brien, originally from Ireland and fondly known as ‘Jimmy’, was left hanging half out of the car but his foot remained on the accelerator causing the wheels to spin.

Onlookers rushed to his aid but he was declared dead at the scene when paramedics and police arrived.

Giving evidence at Black Country Coroner’s Court Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes, of West Midlands Police Collision Investigation Unit, read out statements from witnesses who had seem Jimmy between 6pm and the moment the crash happened at around 6.30pm on May 15. One had described the Scenic overtaking another car at ‘terrific speed’ up to 60mph.

His statement said: “The car appeared to be out of control and driven by a mad man.”

Other witnesses said Jimmy was seen leaning out of his window and shouting aggressively at other motorists on Stallings Lane whilst several people told the police he had collided slightly with another vehicle before driving off and ultimately crashing.

Jimmy’s alcohol level was around 200 milligrams per decilitre according to a toxicology report – the legal limit is 80 mg/dl. The medical cause of death was recorded as traumatic asphyxia. Coroner Zafar Siddique concluded Jimmy died as a result of a road traffic collision down to driver error saying ‘it may have been affected by alcohol’.

He added: “It is a tragic set of circumstances and he leaves behind his wife and children.”