THE driver of a borrowed car could have been suffering the effects of cannabis and alcohol when he crashed in to a bank opposite a give-way junction, claiming his life and a passenger’s, an inquest heard.

Driver William Stephen Halsall, 31, of The Stables, Hayscastle, and rear passenger Kayley Jane O’Connell, 27, of Cox Hill, Narberth both died in the February 5 early hours crash, when the VW Beetle driven by Mr Halsall hit a bank head-on opposite a give way junction on the B4314 near Narberth crematorium.

Miss O’Connell was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services in the early hours, while Mr Halsall died later in hospital.

Neither were wearing seatbelts, the inquest heard.

Front passenger Ryan Lee, wearing a seatbelt, survived the crash.

At the June 29 inquest, Coroner’s Officer for Dyfed-Powys Police Jeremy Davies said Mr Halsall, who worked as a contractor for Narberth-based Apple Blosssom Cleaning, and Miss O’Connell, a care worker, described as “a wonderful loving person,” had been socialising in Narberth pubs earlier on the night of February 4.

They, later borrowed a Volkswagen Beetle borrowed from a Samantha Lee, travelling to nearby Llanmill, where a passenger was dropped off.

Leaving Llanmill, passing the crematorium towards Narberth, the Beetle failed to negotiate the junction, hitting the earth embankment across the road.

A post-mortem report by Dr Leonard Sempkin stated Ms O’Connell had died after suffering a severe neck injury and a fracture of vertebrae.

She had an alcohol level of 140 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

Mr Halsall, who died after suffering severe head injuries had a blood alcohol level of 127 -the legal limit being 80 - along with a significant level of cannabis in his system, more than three times the drug-drive limit.

The report stated the presence of the cannabis “suggests the deceased may have been experiencing the toxic effects of the drug” at the time of the crash.

A vehicle examination found no faults with the car, and no evidence of emergency braking or loss of control was found, and specialist examination of the brake light filaments stated the brakes had not been applied.

The inquest heard it was not possible to calculate what speed the car had been travelling at.

“It appears that the driver has failed to react to the give way junction prior to impact,” investigating officer PC David Stacey told the inquest, adding that the junction naturally “bears to the left”.

HM Coroner for Pembrokeshire Mark Layton said: “Mr Halsall was driving a friend’s vehicle on February 5; he’s failed to stop at a give-way sign, which has resulted in his death and the death of Miss O’Connell.

“It appears that alcohol and drugs have contributed to the collision.”

Mr Layton gave a conclusion of a road traffic collision as cause of death for both.