A Long Eaton bus driver took heroin before he crashed into a tree and died, an inquest has been told. Derbyshire Police were called out to Wilsthorpe Road, in the town, at 2.50pm on Monday, December 13.
An inquest was opened on Wednesday (April 13) into the death of Ashley Entwistle. The 45-year-old was living in Berkeley Avenue, Long Eaton, at the time of the incident, Derbyshire Live reports.
Mr Entwistle had been driving a grey Skoda Octavia which left the carriageway and collided with a tree. He was taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre where he later died.
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The hearing was told Mr Entwistle had taken heroin before he was left seriously injured. Chesterfield Coroners' Court was told that police were called to a collision involving two cars and a tree.
East Midlands Ambulance Service and Air Ambulance officials were called out, too. The road was closed for several hours. In the days that followed, floral tributes to Mr Entwistle were left where he was fatally injured.
Mr Entwistle was taken to the QMC with serious injuries but died a short time later. An autopsy was carried out and a post-mortem report produced.
The post mortem report by Doctor Terrance Jones discovered "high levels of morphine, found from heroin" in Mr Entwistle's system. Dr Jones also said Mr Entwistle suffered "significant injuries" when he crashed the Skoda Octavia.
Assistant Coroner Mr Matthew Kewley told the hearing that an investigation by Derbyshire police's Forensic Collision Investigation Team had concluded. The inquest has been adjourned - though a date for the later hearing is yet to be set.
