A DRINK-driver, who was late to pick up a pizza, died after his car slammed into a tree and burst into flames.
John Jordan died instantly in the crash, which took place on the B3349 as he drove from his home in South Warnborough to the Pizza Express restaurant, in Alton.
The 40-year-old, who was more than three times over the drink-drive limit, had overtaken a convoy of cars at speed on a blind bend minutes before his crash, an inquest heard.
Rebecca Chandler, a driver of one of the three cars he had overtaken, told the inquest at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court that he had seemed impatient with the speed of the cars ahead, tailgating her before his overtake.
Minutes later, as she approached the crossroads by The Golden Pot pub, she saw what she first thought was a bonfire by the side of the road.
It turned out to be Mr Jordan’s black Audi S5, which was wedged up against a mature tree, on fire, with its bonnet in the air.
Mr Jordan’s wife Claire said she had returned from a business trip in Paris that evening, on Tuesday, October 7, and the couple decided to order a pizza for dinner. But Mr Jordan was late leaving their home in Upton Grey Road, having had a shower and losing his wallet.
His wife said: “He did not appear at all to me to be under the influence of alcohol. I would not have let him in the car if he had been.”
She said she called his mobile when he did not return, before a police officer knocked on her door to tell her that her husband had been involved in an accident.
PC Ed Wilson, forensic crash investigator at Hampshire Constabulary, said it is likely Mr Jordan was driving above the 60mph speed limit before losing control while negotiating a right-hand bend.
A post-mortem revealed Mr Jordan would have died before the flames took hold.
Recording a verdict of accidental death, Andrew Bradley, coroner for North East Hampshire, said: “It’s a sad matter, and particularly sad because of the circumstances of John’s death, and the fact that he seems to be the author of his own misfortune.”
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