A car enthusiast was more than twice the legal drink-drive limit and not wearing his seatbelt when he crashed into the rear of another vehicle, an inquest heard.

James King, 26, from South Darenth, was at the wheel of a Vauxhall Tigra when he collided with a Mercedes E300 in Dartford Road, Sutton-at-Hone, in June.

The force of impact caused Mr King’s car to career across the single carriageway and strike the kerb before hitting a viaduct bridge wall.

The father-of-one, who was an engineer by trade and lived in Devon Road, suffered multiple severe injuries and died at the scene.

An inquest at Gravesend’s Old Town Hall today heard his alcohol reading was 173 milligrammes in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.

Traces of cocaine were also found in his body.

Accident investigation officer PC Mark Myers told the hearing it was also likely that Mr King was travelling in excess of the 30mph speed limit and that his driving was the “primary causation” of the fatal accident.

The officer also said he could not rule out that Mr King was about to overtake the Mercedes near the junction with Station Road when he hit its rear.

North West Kent coroner Roger Hatch recorded a verdict of death due to a road traffic collision.

Mr King, who was known as “Cheno” was a member of the Performance UK car club, a nationwide organisation of car enthusiasts.

Many joined family and friends in a memorial gathering and convoy at the scene of the accident three days after Mr King’s death.

"I saw how the car was moving across the road, going through the kerb and hitting a wall on the other side of the road. It had spun around hitting the wall where the passenger side was" - Witness Todor Petrov

Speaking at the time, his brother, Alfie, said he was overwhelmed by the scores of people who had paid their respects.

The inquest heard Mercedes driver Todor Petrov was heading towards Dartford on the A225, having collected his daughter from work in West Kingsdown at about 10pm on Sunday, June 14.

He believed they drove past Mr King’s vehicle minutes before the crash as it sat parked in a lay-by, and he noticed the driver was smoking and on his phone.

In a statement he gave to police, Mr Petrov said: “Suddenly I felt something hit the back of my car.

“I managed to keep the steering wheel under control. I kept a firm grip which did not allow my car to swerve.

“I looked at my daughter instinctively. She was looking behind me at what was going on. I then turned to look back too.

“I saw how the car was moving across the road, going through the kerb and hitting a wall on the other side of the road. It had spun around hitting the wall where the passenger side was.”

Despite being summonsed to appear at the inquest, Mr Petrov failed to attend and his statement was read to Mr King’s family by the coroner.

Mr Petrov said the collision happened so quickly he believed the other driver was speeding.

He and his daughter managed to get out of their car and were helped by passers-by. “I was holding my daughter so she couldn’t see much of the accident,” he added.

“She was very scared and stressed... She said it was the same car we had just passed further down the road.”

Another motorist, Paul Foster, of London Road, Greenhithe, had just driven under the viaduct and was heading towards the roundabout at the bottom of Farningham Hill when he passed an oncoming car.

He later told police that as he drew level, it appeared as if the driver dropped a gear and accelerated. He said it was “at some speed” and to such an extent that it made him jump.

Mr Foster then looked in his rear view mirror and saw what he thought was a traffic island bollard going up into the air.

He then noticed the car doing the same and heard what he described as a slight impact.

Mr Foster told the inquest, however, that he did not hear any screeching or other sounds.

Mr King’s Tigra sustained extensive damage but had no defects that could have contributed to the accident.

However, PC Myers said a number of “significant” marks were found on the road surface, including a gouge measuring 2.7m made by the Tigra.

This, he added, provided the “best indication” of the point of impact, and also showed Mr King had moved into an offside position in the lane and may have been about to overtake the Mercedes.

But the officer said there was no evidence to suggest emergency braking had been applied.

The inquest did not hear any evidence as to how drugs may have affected Mr King’s ability to drive, but PC Myers said there was nothing to suggest Mr Petrov was driving in anything but a careful and competent manner.

It was reported at the time that Mr Petrov and his daughter were treated for minor injuries.

Mr King’s family did not wish to comment after the hearing.