Drink and drugs led to fatal smash

Michael Cotter, of Old Redbridge Road, Redbridge, was rushing to work when his red Vauxhall flipped over on a bend, rolled several times, crashed through a fence and ploughed into marshland near the A36 in Totton.

Passers-by dragged the 21-year-old from his smoking vehicle seconds before it burst into flames but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The inquest at Southampton Coroner's Court heard that Michael had drunk about a dozen alcopops during an evening out with his girlfriend the night before - and he was a regular cannabis user.

He arrived home from a city nightclub in the early hours of the morning and woke up late for work on Saturday, August 16.

Witnesses saw Michael's car racing over the Redbridge flyover at speeds up to 80mph before it swerved into Commercial Road.

In a statement read out in court, dog walker Irene Drakeford: "The car hit the island curb and jumped into the air. It did three cartwheels."

Driver Paul Thompson was the first person to scramble down to the muddy riverbank to the wrecked vehicle.

He said in a statement: "I could see straight away there was a lot of blood all over the back window. We decided we had to get him out because the vehicle was on fire."

He and another passer-by made desperate attempts to revive Michael but without success.

Pathologist Dr Harry Millard-Sadler told the inquest that Michael had died from severe head injuries. He added that Michael had recently smoked "a considerable amount of cannabis".

"I have to conclude that the combination of cannabis and alcohol on the judgement and motor driving skills could have been a significant contribution to the road traffic accident. It would make you less inhibited, less cautious."

Michael's mum Patricia Cotter told the inquest her son was a "nice young man".

She said: "He just liked to play on his computer. He never got into any trouble."

A verdict of accidental death was recorded.