Death crash driver was over the limit (From Oxford Mail)

Death crash driver was over the limit

10:00am Friday 27th April 2012 in Oxford

A DRIVER who killed himself and a friend in a crash was “two to three times” over the drink-drive limit, an inquest heard.

Cullum Miles and back-seat passenger Stacey Westwood died instantly when the Vauxhall Astra they were travelling in hit a tree off the Broughton Road, near Banbury, on November 6.

Front-seat passenger Daniel Barry, who only remembers waking up in a nearby bush before making his way home oblivious of the crash, escaped without injury.

An inquest into the deaths of Mr Miles, 25, of Mascord Road, Banbury, and 20-year-old Miss Westwood, who grew up in the town but had moved to Leicester, was heard at Oxford Coroner’s Court yesterday.

All thee occupants of the car had been out drinking that night and Mr Miles was two to three times over the driving limit, according to pathologist Professor Ian Roberts.

The wreckage was discovered by jogger Desmond Farrell at about 8am and it was thought the crash took place some time after 3.30am.

Coroner Nicholas Gardiner recorded verdicts of accidental death but said Mr Miles would have probably faced criminal proceedings for careless driving had he survived.