A FACTORY worker died when he lost control of his car and spun off the road into a tree - seconds before his fiance drove past.

Darren Cooper had not been wearing his seatbelt when he was flung across the car on Thursday, January 24, an inquest heard.

The 27-year-old machine operator at Cosworth Technology, Worcester, had borrowed his father's car to get to and from work while his was being repaired.

That evening, he left the home he shared with fiance Lisa Heath, in Wilden Top, and travelled to Stourport-on-Severn to return his father's Rover 626.

Miss Heath, who was following in a separate vehicle some way behind, was shocked when she saw his car embedded in a roadside hedge.

"I could not believe what I was seeing. I was screaming at him," said Miss Heath. "I was terrified to open the door."

Miss Heath ran to a nearby house to contact the emergency services.

Forgotten

She said she was in such a panic she had forgotten she had a mobile phone.

Passing motorist Kieron Taylor was also flagged down.

He grabbed Mr Cooper's hand and attempted to feel for a pulse before police and ambulance services arrived.

Accident investigator Paul Fulbrook, who worked for West Mercia police at the time, believed the car was travelling at speed, judging by the length of the tyre marks stretching along the road. He said it appeared Mr Cooper had lost control of the car before it mounted the roadside verge.

An aggressive attempt had been made to correct the problem, causing the car to spin across the road where it hit the tree on the passenger side door.

He confirmed Mr Cooper had not worn a seatbelt.

Deputy Worcestershire Coroner Tim Sherwood said Mr Cooper died from the injuries suffered in the crash.

He said the couple were soon to be married and were planning to buy a house together.

He said there was no reason why the car had gone out of control before it collided with the tree.

A post-mortem showed Mr Cooper died from a fractured skull and multiple injuries. A verdict of accidental death was recorded.