A WOMAN who was five months' pregnant was killed in a head-on car crash by an American serviceman suffering from a sleeping disorder.

Emma James, who was expecting a baby girl, died in the crash on the A420, near Buckland, on August 10, 2004 - and now a coroner has ruled she was unlawfully killed.

An inquest heard American airforce serviceman David McDuffie had been warned by a doctor not to drive because he suffered from sleep apnoea - a common breathing disorder, that can increase the risk of driving accidents because of tiredness.

McDuffie, based at RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire, was taking a colleague, Lee Reynolds, to the dentist when his white, left-hand drive Hyundai Sonata careered into the path of Mrs James' Ford Focus.

Mrs James, 33, of Buckland, suffered multiple injuries, and died at the scene, near Carswell Golf Club.

Eight months' pregnant Karen Barber was travelling behind the Hyundai. She said: "Shortly after the Buckland turn, the white car travelling in front of me suddenly veered into the opposite carriageway without any apparent reason.

"I immediately applied my brakes, which locked, and I skidded, but because the white car hit the Ford Focus head on, his car came back into my lane and caused me to hit the tail end of his car."

Off-duty policewoman Sara Kent went to help, and said: "It was evident the woman in the Ford Focus was trapped due to the severity of damage to the vehicle. I advised the driver of the Hyundai to sit down. He turned his back to me and walked away.

"I found it incredibly frustrating I was unable to assist Mrs James. I felt extremely angry towards the driver of the Hyundai for his evasive reaction and indignant attitude towards me at the scene."

The inquest heard McDuffie, 33, who had been diagnosed with his condition four years prior, had been advised by a medical consultant that his sleep apnoea had begun to deteriorate and that he should not drive while feeling sleepy.

PC Pete Billingham, of Abingdon's Roads Policing, read out a statement made by McDuffie taken on September 30, 2004.

He said: "I cannot give an explanation as to why the car went into the opposite lane and I do not know if I fell asleep."

PC Billingham read out a statement made by Mr Reynolds on September 29. He said: "I noticed McDuffie appeared tired. He yawned and stretched to try to wake himself up."

Because McDuffie was taking Mr Reynolds to his dental appointment at RAF Croughton, in Northamptonshire, he was technically deemed on duty.

It was decided under the Visiting Forces Act that McDuffie would be tried under American military authority, rather than in an English court. He was found guilty of negligent homicide and causing injury to Mr Reynolds and Mrs Barber.

He was sentenced to one year in prison, but served less than five months. McDuffie also had his rank reduced, received a bad conduct charge, and has since returned to America.

Recording a verdict of unlawful killing on Tuesday last week, assistant Oxfordshire coroner, Dr Richard Whittington, said: "It would seem this man did know he suffered from this disorder and he persisted to continue to drive even though he had been recommended by a doctor not to drive. This is an offence of the highest order, the equivalent of the UK legal system would be death by dangerous driving."