Inquest told of driver who was high on drugs cocktail

Toxicology tests on William Shippen revealed traces of heroin, cocaine, methadone, diazepam and cannabis in his system.

The 26-year-old, from Gateshead, was behind the wheel of a 16-seater Leyland minibus that collided with a stationary 44-tonne Scania.

The accident happened in a lay-by on the A19 near Peterlee, County Durham, at about 7pm, on November 4, last year.

Shippen, who was jailed for three years in 2001 for dealing heroin and disqualified from driving until 2007, stole the minibus from Middlesbrough earlier in the day. He was seen weaving from lane to lane moments before the 70mph crash.

Katherine O'Byrne told the inquest, at Chester-le-Street, that she was fearful of overtaking because of the dangerous manner in which he was driving. She said: "One car overtook the minibus and he pulled out and clipped the car.

"There was a parked lorry by the side of the road and the minibus went straight into the back of it. I didn't see him swerving."

Mr Shippen drove into the back of the Asda lorry in which driver, Kenneth Cooper, from Leicestershire, was taking a mandatory break.

Mr Cooper said: "I had been lying down in my cab with my eyes closed when I felt a jolt.

"The bus was buried into the rear end of the trailer. I could see the occupant was still in there. I had my mobile phone in my hand when I got out of the trailer, so I called the emergency services."

The force of the crash was so severe, the minibus went two-and-a-half metres under the trailer. Mr Shippen died at the scene.

PC Malcolm Thomas, who investigated the crash, told the inquest what drugs were found in Mr Shippen's system.

He said: "All these drugs may have adversely affected an individual's ability to control a motor vehicle. It is quite clear that no one else in any way was responsible for this accident. Mr Shippen has paid the ultimate penalty."

Deputy coroner Brenda Davison recorded a verdict of accidental death.