Death crash driver was over the limit

A 30-year-old Bexhill man who lost his life in a crash on Barnhorn Road was almost three times over the legal drink drive limit.

Christopher Mead, a quantity surveyor from Robin Hill, lost control of his Citroen Saxo on the A259 near the junction with Old Farm Road just after midnight on Wednesday September 30 2009.

His car drifted side-on into the path of an oncoming Chrysler Voyager on a sharp left bend at the top of the hill.

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He died from severe injuries to his head and chest following the impact, including a fractured skull and lacerated aorta which caused internal bleeding.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded by coroner Joanne Pratt at the inquest held at Hastings Magistrates Court this week.

The court heard how Mr Mead had gone to Hyde Park in London that day to meet with clients and colleagues from the company he worked for in Hampden Park.

One of them was project engineer Leslie Ansfield, from Westham, who told how the group had convened in a pub in the afternoon and then moved onto a restaurant, followed by a visit to another pub before heading off to Victoria Station to catch the 10.47pm train. He stated that the deceased had been drinking shorts but did not know what they were or how many.

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He did note however that Mr Mead was "a bit unsteady" on his feet on the way home.

He described this as "slightly out of character", having already said Mr Mead was conscientous and hard-working.

Once back at Polegate station Mr Ansfield headed for home having been assured by Mr Mead that a lift was on the way.

Evidence was then read out revealing how Mr Mead had instead driven himself and lost control of his silver hatchback, which turned sideways on the bend on Barnhorn Road and slid into the path of the people carrier coming from the Bexhill direction.

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The first witness was Hussein Rangbar, who claimed he saw the accident in his rear view mirror, while the next was Curtis Hodder, who had been overtaken minutes earlier by Mr Mead's car and described his driving as "stupid".

He told the inquest the car was swaying as it moved away, having passed him at approximately 70mph, and said: "The car seemed to fishtail...

2it did this three or four times but remained the whole time in lane.

"I thought it was going to end up around a tree. I could see the

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driving was not normal. The car seemed to be swaying from side to side."

Also giving evidence at the inquest was Mr Robert Harmer, of Cantelupe Road, the Bexhill taxi driver whose Chrysler Voyager collided with the Citroen.

He said he only saw the vehicle as the side of the car came towards him. He was travelling at 40/45 mph in the 60mph zone and remained in his lane.

Final evidence was heard from PC Andrew Wilson-Law who concluded that this was a "classic T-bone type collision" but added that the Citroen Saxo's tyres were significantly under-inflated which could be a factor in loss of control.

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In giving her verdict the coroner highlighted that Mr Mead had a reading of 239 mcg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood - almost three times over the drink-drive limit. He also had traces of cannabis and cocaine in his system but not from usage immediately prior to his death.

She described the accident as "tragic" and passed on her condolences to the dead man's family.

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