THE driver of a car which hit a railway bridge killing himself and a friend had been drinking and also had traces of cocaine in his blood stream, an inquest was told.

Jonathan Fishwick, 18, and David Welch, 27, who both lived in Yarm Road, Darlington, died in the accident on the A67 near Eaglescliffe, Teesside, shortly after 11.30pm on Friday, November 7, last year.

Gary Towers, of Well Bank, Aycliffe Village, County Durham, was also in the borrowed Citroen car but survived, despite suffering internal injuries.

One witness estimated that the car had overtaken him at speeds of between 90 and 100mph shortly before the accident.

Pathologist Dr Peter Cooper told the Middlesbrough inquest that Mr Fishwick, who only had a provisional driver's licence, had been more than twice the legal blood alcohol limit at the time, as well as being under the influence of cocaine.

Mr Towers told the inquest that they had been out drinking when they decided to go to the Tall Trees nightclub, near Yarm.

PC Derrick Walton, from the crash investigation unit at Cleveland Police, described the devastation caused by the accident as the worst he had seen.

Mr Towers had been wearing a seat belt but it was unclear if Mr Fishwick and Mr Welch had been. They were both thrown from the car and died almost instantly.

PC Ross Jordan said that evidence indicated that the car had been travelling erratically and at speed, but that the condition of the road and the tyres could also have played a part in the accident, as well as Mr Fishwick's lack of driving experience.

Coroner Michael Sheffield recorded a verdict of accidental death on both Mr Fishwick and Mr Welch.