Bilborough man dies in drink-driving accident
A MAN from Bilborough had been on a nine-hour drinking session before he drove and lost control of his car, an inquest heard.
Craig Exton, 33, of Graylands Road, died on June 22 after a crash which threw him from his Peugeot 306 convertible in Plumtree Road, Cotgrave.
-
Coroner Martin Gotheridge
He had only owned the car for two days, was not wearing a seatbelt and was almost three times the legal limit for driving.
The inquest at Nottingham Coroner's Court on Friday heard that Exton had been drinking with his girlfriend Karen Harrison and other friends since around 12.30pm to 1pm.
They had met at the Nottingham Knight pub in Ruddington before moving to other pubs.
Mr Exton's friend and employer, Richard Allsop, had been driving the group and dropped them back off at the Nottingham Knight before the accident, which was at 10.25pm.
He then planned to drive alone to Cotgrave to meet some other friends, but Mr Exton insisted on following him in his own car.
Speaking at the inquest, Ms Harrison, from Lenton Abbey, said: "I remember being in the Nottingham Knight car park and Craig shouting at me to get in the car."
Ms Harrison said she had called for a taxi but Mr Exton had cancelled it.
She said she got into the front passenger seat and put on her seatbelt, while Mr Exton got into the driver's seat without putting his seatbelt on, and friend Richard Martin got into the back.
Ms Harrison broke down in court and said: "Craig was driving like a mad man. I was screaming at him to slow down. He just kept laughing.
"He was swerving it from side to side, just to frighten me. He thought it was funny.
"Then all I felt was the car lift and I just flung my arms and legs out."
The car rolled over several times and came to rest upside down with Ms Harrison still inside.
Mr Exton and Mr Martin were thrown from the car, and Mr Exton landed 13 metres from the vehicle.
The inquest heard he had 224mg of alcohol in 100 millitres of blood. The drink-drive limit is 80mg.
Mr Martin, who was also not wearing seatbelt, suffered a blood clot on his brain.
Assistant deputy coroner for Notts Mr Martin Gotheridge said: "This is a very sad case that involves a young man who was totally oblivious to the dangers of drinking and driving.
"It is a salutary lesson in what happens if someone drinks extensively then gets into a car and does not even put a seatbelt on."
He recorded a verdict of accidental death.
samantha.hughes@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk
4 Comments
by Karen Keeling - mother to his first born son., Nottingham
Sunday, November 16 2008, 11:29AM
“I was in the Court when Karen Harrison, Craigs girlfriend, told her story of what happened. It bought back memories of when we were together and the exact same happened to me. On this occasion though he had had only two Shandys but was driving like an idiot, hit the central bollard and blew my tyre out.
He was nasty at times and drank far too much.
Craig got away with alot coz he was such a funny guy with the best smile ever.
My heart goes out to Karen Harrison and I only hope that in time she can put to one side the bad memories of that night and be happy with the good memories that Craig definately was very good at giving although I will always question why she and his mate Richard never took the keys off him and refused him to drive if he had been drinking all day long.
People take drink driving far too lightly.
I have fantastic memories of him, aswell as some very dark memories.
I look at his memorial wall on facebook and still cannot believe he has killed himself but he died doing what he did best... drinking and laughing! He really and truely was a LOVEABLE ROGUE who was loved by many, many people.
RIP Craigy. xx”
by Kirsty Ward, Nottingham
Friday, November 14 2008, 5:57PM
“Hopefully this will teach people to put on a seatbelt when they get in a car and not to drink drive. Craig was a great guy and im glad i got the chance to meet him before he was taken away from my sister and all his family.Karen will always have the good memories of what she had with Craig. RIP Craig Exton Love Gert x”
by paula davies, nottingham
Thursday, November 13 2008, 11:56AM
“I also agree people should not drink and drive ,but at some point of our lives we have got into a car where people have had a drink that person wasnt forced into the car she also drank all day she could of walked away and got into the taxi ! there will be a tribute of craig and how he lived in a forthcoming post .he wasnt the aggresive abusive drunken person she made him out to be”
by Have a go Hero, Nottingham
Tuesday, November 11 2008, 4:02PM
“What a sad loss of life, sad that drink driving has claimed another Victim.
I have always believed in zero alcohol if you are driving.That way people would know that the absolute limit is ZERO.
My heart goes out to Ms Harrison and thank god you was spared”