A 30-year-old St Ives man died after a car in which he was a passenger smashed into a roundabout, flipped over and landed in a ditch. Steffan Strickson-Head, a technician, who lived in Reynolds Close, died on August 3 when the car left the B1090 near RAF

A 30-year-old St Ives man died after a car in which he was a passenger smashed into a roundabout, flipped over and landed in a ditch.

Steffan Strickson-Head, a technician, who lived in Reynolds Close, died on August 3 when the car left the B1090 near RAF Wyton.

An inquest at Cambridge Coroner's Court last Wednesday heard that the car's driver, David Levene, a friend of Mr Strickson-Head's, had been over the legal drink-drive limit, had traces of methadone in his blood, and was travelling too quickly.

Mr Levene, who was cut free from the car and taken to Hinchingbrooke Hospital, in Huntingdon, is facing police charges following the incident.

He was at the wheel of the BMW 318i that landed in the ditch at about 8.15pm.

The BMW caught fire and continued to burn until military personnel from the RAF base extinguished the flames.

At the inquest, Mr Levene spoke only to acknowledge he was the driver of the car.

Coroner David Morris recorded a verdict of accidental death, saying that he was aware police proceedings are ongoing, and to record a verdict of unlawful killing he would have to consider there to have been a higher level of recklessness.

In August, more than 250 people attended Mr Strickson-Head's funeral service at St Mary's Church, Huntingdon.

Mr Strickson-Head's mother Jane, 54, said after the inquest: "The family is still in shock.

"Steffan was lovely - a nuisance, but lovely. Whatever anyone says or does, it can't bring him back."

* Mr Levene is due to appear before Huntingdon Magistrates' Court on January 8 charged with careless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol.