A 71-YEAR-old man who died in a car crash was not wearing a seatbelt, an inquest heard.

John Livingston had met friends for drinks at Temeside Inn in Little Hereford at lunchtime on March 12.

When he was driving to his home in Wyson along Wyson Lane in Brimfield he lost control of his car and crashed. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post mortem report revealed Mr Livingston died from a spine fracture, which led to an airway obstruction, as a result of the crash.

Another significant contribution to his death was hypertensive heart disease.

Herefordshire Coroner's Court heard that a toxicology report revealed Mr Livingston had a blood alcohol level of 189mg which is more than double the legal drink-drive limit.

Collision investigator PC Mark Murphy said the crash took place on a relatively straight piece of road with dry, light conditions.

He concluded Mr Livingston lost control of his car, left the carriageway on the offside up a slight bank and hit a tree.

The car then rebounded back onto the carriageway and ended up with the roof resting on a garden wall and the passenger side of the car resting on the road.

Mr Livingston ended up in the passenger window area following the crash.

PC Murphy said the seatbelt had not been worn when the crash happened, which was also confirmed by vehicle examiner, Michael Saunders.

PC Murphy said: "In my opinion, had the driver's seatbelt been worn the driver would have retained in the seat and may well have survived the collision."

Coroner Mark Bricknell said: "He died from the medical causes given.

"We cannot be sure of the relative importance of the alcohol within his body, the absence of the seatbelt being in use and his underlying medical conditions, which were significant."

Mr Bricknell recorded he died as a result of a road traffic collision.