TWO men who were killed in a car crash on a dangerous stretch of road near Ombersley were not wearing seatbelts, an inquest heard.

Twenty-two-year-old Michael Jennings and 19-year-old William Hall were pronounced dead at the scene of the collision -- on the A449 Worcester to Kidderminster dual carriageway between Ombersley and Crossway Green -- by a passing doctor.

The accident happened on Tuesday, December 9, last year as the two men -- both of Boreley Lane, Ombersley -- were on their way to work at Worcester Heat Systems, in Worcester, when the green Ford Fiesta, driven by Mr Hall, hit a tree.

Mr Jennings was engaged to Mr Hall's sister and Mr Hall was due to celebrate his 20th birthday on Sunday, December 28.

Worcestershire coroner Victor Round said at an inquest last Tuesday in Stourport-on-Severn the accident happened at about 6.15am and neither of the men had been wearing seatbelts at the time.

The inquest also heard examination of the car afterwards revealed its rear tyres were badly over-inflated and that one of the rear brakes was contaminated with a fluid leak.

Pathologist Dr Terry Jones carried out a post mortem on both victims and gave Mr Hall's cause of death as multiple injuries due to a road traffic collision.

Mr Round said analysis of the Mr Hall's blood and urine specimens detected traces of amphetamine in his urine but not in his blood, which suggested it was not used recently and so would not have affected his driving.

Traces of cannabis were also found in his bloodstream but Mr Round said it was difficult to assess whether this would have affected his driving. Dr Jones gave Mr Jennings' cause of death as due to chest injuries. Mr Round recorded a verdict of accidental death.