A man who died in a car crash in Kings Langley earlier this year could not have been saved, an inquest has heard.

Ebua Jones, otherwise known as Ebua Emmanuel, was returning home after a meeting with friends when he crashed with a TX4 taxi in Hempstead Road, near the junction with Common Lane.

Hertfordshire Coroner's Court heard the 37-year-old, of London Road, Hemel Hempstead, was travelling at 47mph round a bend in the road, while being two times over the drink driving limit. The speed limit was 30mph.

In addition, an under inflated tyre caused Mr Emmanuel to swerve on to the wrong side of the road where he then crashed with the taxi, which was being driven by Gordon Fowler from Harrow. Mr Fowler's wife, daughter and dog were sitting in the back.

Mr Fowler had been travelling between 20 to 25mph along the road. He said: "I suddenly saw headlights a couple of hundred yards away. The direction the vehicle was going suddenly changed and came straight at me, so I turned slightly to the right. It all happened so quick."

Mr Emmanuel was driving a blue Ford Focus Sport. At the point of impact Mr Fowler was travelling between 13 and 15mph and Mr Emmanuel was travelling 20mph, making a combined speed of 34mph. Mr Fowler and his family suffered minor injuries, but a paramedic pronounced Mr Emmanuel dead at the scene.

Mr Emmanuel's ex-wife said: "The family was just coming back together, then all this happened suddenly. I want to thank everyone for their help with this, and from myself and my daughter, I want to say sorry to Mr Fowler and his family."

Coroner Edward Thomas ruled Mr Emmanuel's death as accidental, and said: "This is an important message, especially coming up to Christmas - it is important not to drink and drive."