A DRIVER who hit a pedestrian as they crossed the A127 had taken a cocktail of drink and drugs before the fatal crash, an inquest heard.

Christian Taylor, 36, from Wickford, died in the crash close to the Dick Turpin pub in the early hours of Christmas Day in 2019.

Yesterday, Essex Coroner’s Court in Chelmsford heard Thomas Black had taken cocaine and drunk a number of beers in the run up to the crash.

Mr Taylor was not found until two days later at roughly 9.50am on December 27.

The inquest heard that Mr Taylor also had signs of drink and drugs in his system when his body was found.

Mr Black, 27, of Middle Street, Nazeing, was then arrested for causing death by dangerous driving.

However, the Crown Prosecution Service has said there was not enough evidence to support this, and Black was charged with and admitted failing to stop and failing to report a crash.

A statement from Mr Black, read out at yesterday’s inquest, said: “I had one 330ml bottle of lager in one pub, then a half pint shandy, then in another pub I had another drink followed by four or five lines of cocaine.

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“We went to Southend and I had more lagers and then more at a girl’s house too. It was about 3am and I left alone and I felt fine.

“I was on the A127 and all of a sudden I heard an all mighty bang, like a big thud. I stopped to look around the vehicle and called a mate but couldn’t see anything.”

www.echo-news.co.uk Wednesday November 17, 2021 Echo 7 His statement said the Range Rover Evoke had damage to its bumper and windscreen.

He claimed he was advised not to do anything about the crash for a few days by family and friends.

During the inquest, detective constable Jennifer Pirie, said: “Mr Taylor had been out with friends at the Festival Leisure Park in Basildon bowling and drinking and was walking home.

“There was signs of drink and drugs in Mr Taylors blood and a post mortem examination found he died of traumatic spinal injuries. The weather was dry and there is no authorised pedestrian crossing at the point in the road.”

The inquest heard how police visited the scene twice after numerous calls from the public about a body being found.

Black was given four months in jail suspended for a year and 100 hours of unpaid work.

Mr Taylor was confirmed dead at the scene of the crash.

Coroner Lincoln Brookes said: “I do not know exactly what Mr Taylor was doing but I do know he was struck by Mr Black. I will record a conclusion of a road traffic collision.”