Young driver smoked cannabis hours before death smash

But Ben Smalley will not face criminal proceedings because a police investigation found there was no evidence to suggest he was at fault.

The 23-year-old was arrested on suspicion of causing 76-year-old John Parsons' death by dangerous driving and interviewed twice by Staffordshire Police.

But charges were never brought. An inquest heard the pensioner was returning home from a night out when he was hit by the Citroen Saxo on the A34 Stone Road, in Stafford, on December 7 last year.

Mr Smalley and his three passengers had been to a carvery, in Stone, and were on their way home when the collision happened at about 1.20am.

South Staffordshire Coroner Mr Andrew Haigh told the inquest held in Cannock that that Mr Smalley admitted smoking cannabis earlier that evening. But he said tests found no trace of the drug or alcohol in his system.

Mr Smalley also told officers he had not seen the pensioner before the collision happened.

Mr Parsons had been out with former work colleagues and was dropped off, crossing the central reservation in an attempt to get to his home, in Fair Oak Avenue, Parkside.

He was taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire and died of multiple injuries on December 13.

At the hearing Mr Haigh asked Mr Smalley: "Is there any reason why you didn't see him? Was there something going on in the car?"

Mr Smalley replied: "No. There was nothing going on in the car. We were on our way home. I wasn't being distracted by any of my friends."

Collision investigator Pc John Mould told the hearing that marks on the road showed that the car's brakes had locked which indicated that the driver had reacted when he saw Mr Parsons, who was in dark clothing.

He said the Citroen's minimum speed would have been about 37mph. He added there was no reason why the driver and the pedestrian should not have seen each other.

Summing up, Mr Haigh said although the road was well lit, Mr Parsons dark clothing may have reduced the view of him, and as he had been drinking this may have affected his ability to cross the road safely.

He recorded a conclusion that he died as a result of a road traffic collision.

The widower, who was known as John, had no family and had lived on his own since his wife Sheila died 13 years ago.

Next-door neighbour and good friend Sheila Williams, 56, said Mr Parsons had been out for an annual Christmas meal with former colleagues from GEC in Stafford, where he had been a line manager.

"They normally dropped outside the door but on that night he said he'd get out and walk the last bit home. They were extremely distraught by his death, they were all in tears."

Paying tribute to Mr Parsons, she added: "John was a gentle giant. He was fit and agile, young for his age, and a lovely man. His death was tragic."