A HAMPSHIRE hospital worker has been charged with drink-driving following a car crash which killed his wife.

Philip Turner, 40, was said to be more than twice the legal alcohol limit when his wife's MGF sports car was in an accident with a people carrier by the couple's home near Rownhams on Christmas Eve.

An inquest heard how Mary Turner, 38, died in her husband's arms after rupturing an aorta in the crash on the A3057 at Horns Hill.

The Winchester hearing was told how Mr Turner, who had been driving the MGF, now faced charges of excess alcohol and careless driving.

Mid Hants deputy coroner Simon Burge recorded a verdict of accidental death on Mrs Turner of Upton Crescent, Rownhams.

Mr Turner, an operating department practitioner at Southampton General Hospital, had been heading south-east when the crash happened at 12.55pm on December 24. Witnesses saw the car slide across the road just after leaving the M271 roundabout. It was then in an accident with the Vauxhall Zafira people-carrier heading north-west.

The Vauxhall was driven by Paul Cody from Middlesex, whose wife, three children and pet dog were also in the vehicle. All escaped without severe injury.

Mr Cody told the inquest: "The car was suddenly right across our path and we could do nothing."

The coroner said it was lucky the people carrier had been able to slow from about 40mph to 20mph before the impact.

"There is clearly no question that Mr Turner intended what transpired," he said.

"He was just driving home and had had too much to drink."

Mr Turner, who was found with his wife cradled in his arms, was taken to Southampton General Hospital, where he was treated for major injuries.

Blood tests revealed he had been two-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit. The coroner said post mortem results showed Mrs Turner had also been above the legal alcohol limit to drive.