A man killed in a horror crash on the A2 had been drinking and taking cocaine before he lost control of his car, an inquest has been told.

Oscar Hunt was almost three times the legal alcohol limit and had traces of the class A drug in his system when he spun a Peugeot 207 near Canterbury.

The 41-year-old had no driving licence, no insurance and was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash on December 15, 2013.

The car spun in the road near Nackington, bounced off the chalk bank and then flipped upside down in the inside lane.

Mr Hunt suffered multiple injuries and died at the scene. Elaine Dimsdale was driving behind him when he crashed and was first to alert emergency crews.

Fighting back tears, she told the hearing at Margate Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday: “About 600 yards ahead, I saw the headlights swinging around. I cursed because I thought it was a car doing a U-turn and being stupid.

“I slowed down as I approached because I was worried the car might be coming towards me, but then I saw headlights shining at 90 degrees towards the central reservation. It was only later that I realised the car was upside down.”

"I slowed down as I approached because I was worried the car might be coming towards me... it was only later that I realised the car was upside down..." - Witness Elane Dimsdale

Police officers investigating the accident found no evidence of other vehicles being involved or problems with road conditions.

At the inquest, PC David Burley said there was no way Mr Hunt could have fallen asleep at the wheel because of sharp steering before hitting the chalk bank.

PC Derek Mole revealed Mr Hunt had been disqualified from driving for a year in 2011 and at the time of the accident had no driving licence or insurance.

The car he was driving belonged to his sister Valerie Dale, to whom he was a full-time carer.

PC Mole added: “Mr Hunt’s mother died in 2009 and he struggled to accept it and come to terms with it.

"That day he had been to visit his mother’s grave with his sister Virginia. His sister was unaware he was driving the car.

"He had been out with friends and had posted on Facebook beforehand that he would probably be having a few drinks.

“He worked as a full-time carer during the week for Valerie, who is severely mentally handicapped and has autism.

"During the week he would work, but then at the weekend he was known as a bit of a party animal.

"He would go out for drinks and would take drugs recreationally. It is not known whether he decided to cause his own death or not.”

Toxicologists discovered a small amount of cocaine in Mr Hunt’s body and 221mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80.

Assistant coroner James Dillon recorded a verdict of accidental death, but adjourned proceedings until a later date to determine if Mr Hunt had died from head injuries or asphyxia.

Speaking outside court, Mr Hunt’s family said he had taken news of his mother’s death badly and that she was his rock.

Younger sister Virginia Howell, 23, said he had looked after Valerie since 2009, and had worked as a manager at Eurostar.

She said: “To me he was like a bit of a father figure. It was a real shock to find out as I had my phone switched off.

"I only found out through a friend of his on Facebook. The police asked to come round, so I knew it was serious or life-threatening injuries. It was just before Christmas and we had all his presents ready and wrapped.

“On Facebook his RIP page was covered in tributes and likes. He lived life to the full.”

Virginia’s brother, Richard Worrell, said Oscar enjoyed travel and dance music, adding: “Everyone loved him and he was always busy doing something. He liked to do things in the spur of the moment and had a great social life.”