Amphetamines found in dead driver

A driver killed with three of his friends had taken amphetamines and was going too fast, an inquest has heard.

Driver Carl Holland, 21, Christopher Downes, 21, Hayley Valentine, and Natalie Smith-Calladine, both 22, all died in Morley, Derbyshire, in January.

Their car collided with another, the inquest at Derby University heard.

But the coroner said the evidence could not prove beyond reasonable doubt the car's speed and the affects of taking drugs had caused the crash.

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Their car was torn in half by the impact

Recording a narrative verdict, Dr Robert Hunter said that both the speed and drugs had been contributory factors in the crash but he was unable to record unlawful killing verdicts on the three passengers.

The hearing was told Mr Holland lost control of the car on a blind bend and it was torn in half by the force of the impact with another vehicle on the A608.

A police crash investigator said Mr Holland had been driving at 63 mph and that he had been to blame in terms of his consumption of amphetamines and the way he drove the vehicle.

All four died almost instantaneously of multiple injuries.

Miss Valentine was the mother of a young child and Miss Smith-Calladine was three months pregnant.

Consultant biochemist Dr Sandy Brown said amphetamines had been found in Mr Holland's urine.

In a statement, Miss Smith-Calladine's mother Linda Bradley said: "I have been robbed of a beautiful daughter and a grandson I'll never know. Natalie was three months pregnant when she died.

"The baby was due to be born on July 25th."