A RARE and tragic set of circumstances led to the death of a much-loved father who was run over by a car two days before Christmas.

John Taylor was lying on the road when he was struck by a Volkswagen Polo in his hometown of Spennymoor in the early hours of December 23 last year.

On Tuesday, an inquest in Crook heard it would have been extremely difficult for the motorist to have seen Mr Taylor, who had been enjoying a night out with friends in the town prior to his death.

PC Nick Downing, a forensic collision investigator with Durham Police, said this was due to a combination of the 38-year-old’s dark clothing, his position on the road, the type of street lighting in the area and the sweep of the car's headlights as it travelled from Stratton Street on to Clarence Street.

The inquest heard Mr Taylor, who worked for DS Smith Plastics Foam Products, had been drinking cider and larger that night and was intoxicated. Witnesses described him as being drunk but in “good spirits,” while council CCTV footage showed him staggering through the town and falling over. A post-mortem examination also found traces of cocaine in his blood.

His cause of death was recorded as chest injuries and the effects of alcohol.

PC Downing said: “We will never know for sure why he came to be lying in the road as we have no CCTV footage of the scene. It’s very difficult but it’s my opinion that he stumbled or collapsed on the ground due to intoxication and was unable to get up or just lay there.”

Sergeant Peter Tate, from Durham Police’s road traffic department, also gave evidence and confirmed the force was not taking legal action against the driver.

The woman was on her way to work at a nearby supermarket when the incident occurred at about 3.40am. After leaving her home in Stratton Street, she turned on to Clarence Street, a distance of just seven or eight metres, when her car hit Mr Taylor.

PC Downing said the circumstances were unusual, adding: “This isn’t a case of a driver seeing something on the road, assuming it was something else, and making a conscious decision not to stop. Neither did she see him at the last minute and not have time to stop. She didn't see him at all.”

PC Downing explained how new LED streetlights in the area created more concentrated pools of light than traditional lamps, with photographs showing Mr Taylor was lying in a darker area. He also noted the pedestrian’s dark clothing, and the path of the driver’s headlights.

“By the time her headlights would have touched upon him, the car would have been too close for her to see him over the bonnet,” he said.

Senior assistant coroner Crispin Oliver recorded a verdict of death by road traffic collision.

He offered his condolences to Mr Taylor’s parents and siblings who attended the hearing.

“It's clear he was a well-loved member of the family,” he said. “I can sense the sense of loss that you feel. It's particularly tragic as it's a set of circumstances that is so unusual and I expect that makes it all the more painful. All I can say is that I hope you have some closure now.”