A WINDOW and door fitter attended a wedding hours before a crash that killed him and another man, an inquest opening has heard.

Richard Lock, 39, from Gloucester, died following the collision on the A424 near Burford, West Oxfordshire at 12.50am on Sunday, December 9.

Oxford Coroner's Court heard yesterday how the police report said Mr Lock had attended a wedding before driving along the A-road in his white Volkswagen Tiguan.

He had a head-on collision with a red Citroen C4 driven by taxi driver Khayelihle Gwala, 34, just after the junction for Taynton, north of Burford.

Oxfordshire coroner Darren Salter confirmed Mr Lock died of multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene at 1.15am.

Oxford Coroner's Court also held an inquest opening for Mr Gwala, from Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, who died in the John Radcliffe Hospital on Wednesday, December 19.

Mr Gwala was taken to the JR's Emergency Department (ED) after the crash, and then into theatre for emergency surgery, the court heard.

He was transferred to intensive care, but was in theatre again on Wednesday, December 12.

Mr Gwala's health 'rapidly deteriorated' overnight on December 18 and he was pronounced dead at 11.45am the next day.

The cause of death was multi organ failure due to sepsis and polytrauma, Mr Salter confirmed.

A full inquest will be held in to both men's deaths on Thursday, July 4, at Oxford Coroner’s Court.

On December 11, a motorbike rider died in a separate crash in almost exactly the same spot.