A SUSPECTED burglar died when he drove head-on into oncoming traffic on the A1 as he fled from the police, an inquest heard.

David Prenelle, 31, of Chilton Moor, Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland, did a U-turn and smashed into cars coming in the opposite direction.

Traces of ecstasy, amphetamine and cannabis were later found in Prenelle's blood.

Police had stopped the unemployed mechanic on the hard shoulder of the A1 near the Gatherley interchange in North Yorkshire on the afternoon of June 16 last year.

His van had been spotted earlier at the scene of a suspected burglary in Catterick Village, where a pub landlady reported finding a man in her bedroom.

As an officer was getting out of his car to speak to Prenelle, he turned the van around and accelerated away, travelling south on the northbound carriageway.

Police, who were following on the hard shoulder in a bid to warn on-coming motorists, described how he met a "wall of cars swerving in all directions".

Traffic Police Constable Michael Hancock, of North Yorkshire police, who gave evidence at the inquest in Richmond, North Yorkshire, said: "I can recall an almighty explosion as the back end of Mr Prenelle's car rose about two or three feet high on impact and a cloud of debris, dust and smoke."

Prenelle was travelling at 40mph with the police following on the hard shoulder at about 20mph, estimated PC Hancock.

He died almost instantly from chest and spinal injuries when he collided with a Fiat Uno.

The driver of the Uno, William Purvis and his son Simon, both of Peterlee, County Durham, suffered serious injuries.

Witness Rae Carlill, who was travelling on the opposite side of the carriageway, described seeing the U-turn and then hearing a "sickening thud".

An inquiry showed that it was almost certain Prenelle was not wearing a seatbelt and had not braked on collision.

North Yorkshire coroner Jeremy Cave said Mr Prenelle's death was a "tragedy" which had resulted in a thorough police investigation. He recorded a verdict of misadventure.

He said that there was no indication that Prenelle was attempting to take his own life, but had taken a course of action which contributed to his death