A MAN who crashed and died was more than three times the drink-drive limit, with a trace of cannabis in his blood, an inquest heard.

Richard Galley, 29, was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown through his car’s sunroof when his black Renault Clio veered off a road and turned over in a field.

His headlights were dipped, Deputy Coroner Chinyere Inyama heard.

Mr Galley, of Rachael Gardens, Silver End, had been driving along Temple Lane towards his home, but failed to navigate a left-hand bend.

PC Duncan Thurlwell, of Boreham traffic unit, told Thursday’s inquest the accident happened at about midnight on January 26, 2008.

Mr Galley had probably been travelling within the speed limit for the road.

Tyre marks showed he had swerved to compensate for his mistake, but did not regain control of the vehicle, PC Thurlwell said.

PC Thurlwell added: “The substantial amount of alcohol he had consumed, with the cannabis, must have impaired his ability to drive safely, causing him to overestimate his driving ability.”

Mr Inyama declared the cause of death was multiple injuries and the verdict was that it was an accident.

Family friend Brian Jaggs attended the inquest on the family’s behalf. He described Mr Galley, who was single and worked for a window glazing firm, as a “larger than life character”.