Driver had taken a "cocktail of drugs" (From Stourbridge News)

Driver had taken a "cocktail of drugs"

1:31pm Monday 18th June 2007 in Local By Lucy Reynolds

A STOURBRIDGE woman died in a horrific smash after a driver who had taken a cocktail of drugs careered into her car.

Dudley Coroners Court heard how Stephen Morris and his wife Angela were travelling along Racecourse Lane towards Norton just after midnight on Saturday August 26, when Daniel Bennett from Kidderminster veered across the road and hit their on-coming Renault Laguna.

The crash, which happened at an estimated impact speed of over 90mph, left both drivers dead.

Mr Morris said: "We saw headlights coming at speed and just hit us, the car just ploughed into us.

"The car came flying across our side of the road, our own vehicle was coming apart all round us."

The court heard how Mr Morris suffered damage to his face and jaw, two bones in his right arm and other internal injuries - and it was two weeks before he started to remember anything.

Dr Simon Elliott, head of forensic toxicology at Birmingham City Hospital, said tests showed in the 24 hours before the crash Mr Bennett had taken; cocaine, amphetamine, ecstasy, pep pills known as BZP and TNFPP and the horse tranquilliser Ketamine.

Dr Elliott also confirmed Bennett was over the alcohol limit for driving at the time of the incident.

When asked if the drugs would have affected Daniel Bennett's driving, Dr Elliott said: "It may have affected his driving - but how, it is impossible to say."

Crash investigator Michael Corrigon, told the court he believed the Renault Laguna was travelling at around 40mph and the Toyota Celica at around 50mph.

Sitting on Wednesday June 13, deputy coroner Sally Scanlon recorded a narrative verdict that Angela Morris and Daniel Bennett died of multiple injuries caused by the crash.

Commenting outside the court, Sergeant Karl Androlia, who led the case, said: "It was a tragic loss of two lives. The young driver had taken a cocktail of various drugs."