A MAN who died together with his half-sister after driving on the wrong side of a dual carriageway on to the closed off section of a flyover, was more than three times over the drink-drive limit, an inquest heard yesterday.

Karl Bowes, 30, who also had traces of Ecstasy and cocaine in his bloodstream, drove north up the southbound carriageway of the A19 for seven-and-a-half miles and on to the A19 Tees flyover between Middlesbrough and Stockton.

The car passed road closures signs, lights and cones, blocking the flyover off to traffic to allow repairs to be carried out overnight, the Middlesbrough inquest was told.

Mr Bowes and 19-year-old Kelly McKie died when the Fiat hit a metal crash barrier at 72mph in the early hours of a wet Sunday, last October.

Rear seat passenger Adam Clayton survived and yesterday told the inquest how both he and Miss McKie had tried to persuade Mr Bowes to cut his speed.

The 19-year-old said: "Me and Kelly were scared. We were trying to get Karl to slow down. She (Kelly) did not want to get into the car and drive home with Karl, because of the drink."

The trio had earlier been at Tall Trees nightclub, in Yarm, where Mr Clayton, of Kilburn Road, Hartburn, Stockton, had been celebrating his 19th birthday at the same time as Mr Bowes' cousin was celebrating his 21st birthday.

A number of the partygoers had taken Ecstacy, Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield was told.

A post-mortem examination found that Kelly, 19, of Ruswarp Avenue, Roseworth, Stockton, had more Ecstasy in her bloodstream than her half-brother.

All three had been travelling to Mr Bowes' house when the accident happened, after he turned the wrong way on to the A19 at the Crathorne Interchange.

The impact caused the car to disintegrate, the off- side of the vehicle completely torn off, leaving one wheel embedded in the barrier. The engine broke free and slid nearly 50 metres along the road.

Crash investigator PC Stephen Garner said there was no evidence of sudden or emergency braking or steering.

He said Mr Bowes, of Keithlands Avenue, Norton, Stockton, had either not seen or misjudged a bend at the junction of the slip road with the viaduct.

Mr Sheffield recorded a verdict of accidental death in both cases.