A FRIEND begged a drunk driver high on cocaine not to overtake moments before their car ploughed into another vehicle in a fatal collision near Legoland Windsor, an inquest heard today.

On July 23, John Spicer and two friends spent the day riding motocross bikes, drinking in pubs and smoking cannabis, before taking cocaine and picking up the Blenheim Road, Slough resident's girlfriend.

As they drove in his silver VW Golf along Winkfield Road at around 10.30pm, Mr Spicer made to overtake the Mercedes in front, prompting passenger William Boardman to shout: "Don't do it John, just don't do it."

The vehicle veered over the double white lines and immediately smashed into another, on-coming Mercedes, pushing the car back and crumpling its front.

Giving evidence at Reading Coroner's Court Angela Cann, passenger to her husband Terry in the car in front of Mr Spicer, said: "I heard a noise. It was a roar like a souped up car going fast.

"I looked to my right and saw the head lights. I said to Terry "what's he doing?" and then within a second there was a crash."

His Mercedes pelted by debris and covered in dust from the crashed cars' airbags, Mr Cann avoided the collision and parked his vehicle up from the Legoland roundabout. His wife called 999. 

When the emergency services arrived they found Mr Spicer's car on one side with the 23 year-old ejected through the driver's side window.

He was declared dead at the scene.

In the opposite car was Koon Yan Kwok, a well-known cook at Masterchef Chinese restaurant in Windsor who had been driving to make dinner for his mother.

Paramedics treated the 50 year-old as firefighters cut him from his car, trauma to his body and head prompting cardiac arrest.

Despite the best efforts of the South Central Ambulance Service, the Uffington Drive, Bracknell resident was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at Wexham Park Hospital.

Speaking in the days after his death, close friend Elaine Lok said: “We are angry, we are angry that he is dead, angry and shocked.

"Everybody loved him. He was a very intelligent and talented chef and very hard working.

“The big thing though is that he had a warm heart.”

Mr Spicer's three passengers would later recover, one having climbed from the wreckage and fleeing the scene, only to return a short while later.

Toxicology and forensic reports found Mr Spicer, a former East Berks College student, was three times the alcohol limit and likely going 20mph over the national speed limit at the time of the crash.

When asked if Mr Kwok had been at fault, forensic accident analyst Kevin Spiller said: "Other than being there no. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Peter Bedford, senior coroner for Berkshire, said Mr Spicer would have faced criminal proceedings for death by dangerous driving had he lived.

A verdict of death by road traffic collision was recorded for both Mr Spicer and Mr Kwok.