A FRIEND begged a drink-driver high on cocaine not to overtake moments before their car ploughed into another vehicle in a fatal collision, an inquest has heard.

John Spicer and two friends had spent July 23 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, Windsor at around 10.30pm, Mr Spicer went 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 smashing in 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 headlights. 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.

When the emergency services arrived they found Mr Spicer’s car on one side with the 23 year-old thrown through the driver’s side window. He was declared dead at the scene.

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

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

Despite their best efforts, the chef who lived above the restaurant, was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at Wexham Park Hospital.

Mr Spicer’s three passengers later recovered, one having climbed from the wreckage and fleeing the scene, only to return later. The former East Berks College student was three times the alcohol limit and was likely driving 20mph over the national speed limit at the time of the crash.

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 men.