AN ASYLUM seeker who died when his car crashed was twice over the legal drink drive limit, an inquest heard.
Iraqi Kurd Ardalan Ali Hussain , 21, of Headfield View, Thornhill Lees, had been out drinking with friend Arsalan Ahmed, 23, in Huddersfield town centre before the accident at 1.30am on October 12, 2003.
Mr Hussain was upset because he had received a phone call from Iraq about problems with plans for his wife to come and join him in England.
The inquest, at Huddersfield Coroners' Court yesterday, was told by Mr Ahmed, of Berry Brow, that his friend had been drinking beer and whisky before the accident at Manchester Road, Milnsbridge.
He said: "I told him please do not drive, let's go back in a taxi, but he said `No come with me'. Because he was so upset I went with him.
"He was driving so fast I shouted `please slow down, please slow down', I was so scared at that time."
The Seat Toledo Mr Hussain was driving crashed into a lamp post and then a wall at the junction of Manchester Road and Park Road West.
The lamp post crashed down on top of the car.
Two passers-by, Martin Augustine, of Dalton, and Dylan Wheatcroft, of Outlane, managed to get the passenger out of the car, but could not rescue Mr Hussain before it burst into flames.
The pathologists report confirmed Mr Hussain, who worked for Morrison's Supermarkets, died from inhaling the fumes caused by the crash and was unconscious before the fire.
Coroner Roger Whittaker recorded a verdict of accidental death after also considering whether Mr Hussain had taken his own life.
