A CORONER has recorded a verdict of accidental death after hearing a young father was double the drink-drive limit when he crashed his girlfriend's car.

Police investigators believe 30-year-old Dean Robinson was travelling at speeds over 80mph when he lost control of the blue Peugeot 206 and hit a tree and a dry stone wall.

The collision happened on Longedge Lane at Knitsley, near Consett, at about 5.30pm on June 17.

Heather Hawxby, who was driving a Nissan Navara, said she saw Mr Robinson overtake her.

She said: "He was going really fast. He pulled in front of me and I knew he had lost control.”

Mr Robinson, who did not have a valid driving licence and was travelling alone, died at the scene as a result of his injuries.

Police believe Mr Robinson may have hit a groove in the road and overcorrected, mistakenly thinking he had hit the grass verge with a tyre.

A new surface had been laid on the road that morning, but despite warning signs with an advisory speed limit of 20mph, PC Mike Baxter said he did not think loose chippings on the road contributed towards the crash.

Mr Robinson had a daughter and lived in Temple Gardens in the Templetown area of Consett.

County Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle said: “His driving ability would have been impaired because there was alcohol in his system.

“He was clearly driving too fast for the conditions and the size of the road.

“The opinion given by the officer seems plausible, he has overreacted, lost control and collided with a wall and tree. It was clearly an accident.”