Shropshire Star

Shropshire driver who died when car hit wall was was almost three times drink-drive limit

A talented Shropshire horse rider who died when his car crashed into a wall was almost three times the drink-drive limit, an inquest has heard.

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Supporting image for story: Shropshire driver who died when car hit wall was was almost three times drink-drive limit

Lewis Holyoake was not wearing a seatbelt when his Vauxhall Corsa crashed into the stone wall near to his home in Melverley, near Oswestry.

An inquest at Shirehall was told Mr Holyoake, 30, of Bontaine Farm, had not been drinking on the evening of September 10 when he had been giving lifts to friends to a party in Market Drayton.

The inquest heard however, that at around half past midnight on September 11, Mr Holyoake stopped driving his friends around and decided to go to a leaving party for the landlord of the Firtree Inn at Crew Green.

A statement from one of his friends, Thomas Poutney, who was also at the party, said he and Mr Holyoake left at around 3am, with Lewis following behind in his car.