Father-of-two was lying in road before being killed in hit-and-run

Anthony Maskell, aged 50, was found on Birchfield Lane, Oldbury, near to the Whiteheath Tavern, after being run over by a silver Nissan Micra.

Smethwick Coroners Court heard how Mr Maskell of Westgate Terrace, Rowley Regis, died from a serious and instantaneous head injury on July 30. The coroner ruled his death was accidental even though he died as a result of being run over by the car.

Mr Maskell, known as Tony to friends and family, who worked as a lorry driver, had been drinking the night of the accident but the court heard it was unclear exactly how he had ended up in the road.

Black Country Coroner Zafar Siddique, speaking in court on Wednesday, said: "Mr Maskell had been socialising, drinking and bottles of cider were found with him.

"He had attempted to cross the dual carriageway on Birchfield Lane.

"It was not clear whether he had been to a public house but for some reason he was lying in the road.

"A Nissan Micra was caught on CCTV in the area and drove over him.

"Sadly he received a catastrophic head injury and passed away in Queen Elizabeth Hospital."

Mr Siqqique said tests later revealed Mr Maskell had 315 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood on the night of the tragedy, which was four times the drink drive limit.

He said: "That may have impaired his vision, made him lose balance or trip.

"There was no direct evidence of an assault because the death was caused by a head injury but it is unclear exactly how he ended up lying in the road.

"On balance he died from a road traffic collision but I have not come to the conclusion it was an accidental death."

Constable Karl Davies, the officer in charge of the case, said investigations had revealed the car involved in the death, which did not stop, was a sliver Nissan Micra between years 2000 and 2003.

He said 599 vehicles in the Black Country area had matched the details after they had been run through the police database.

He added officers had visited 551 owners but so far the investigation had drawn a blank.

He said: "Looking at substantial CCTV footage we saw the car turn left at the traffic lights and then almost immediately right behind a block of flats.

"We could not identify the driver or how many people were in the car but it stayed there for two minutes.

"We have carried out checks, issued press appeals and put out CCTV but these have all proved negative.

"This is still a live investigation and any new evidence that comes to light we will review."

Mr Maskell's father, David, said he felt the main crime was the fact the car had not stopped.

He said: "Anyone with a bit of decency would have stopped.

"Accidents happen but if it had have stopped we, as a family, would have had more answers."