PASSENGERS in a speeding car pleaded with the driver to slow down seconds before the £40 vehicle crashed into a wall claiming the lives of two men, an inquest heard.

And today it was revealed that on the day he died, one of the men was looking forward to becoming a father.

Coroner Michael Singleton said police could not be blamed for the fatal accident, even though the car appeared to be speeding away from a police vehicle at the time.

But some relatives claimed that many of their questions about the crash remained unanswered.

The inquest heard that Ali Asghar Hussain, 18, who had never held a driving licence, sped off after spotting a police car in the early hours.

The hearing was told he went through two red lights in Preston New Road, Blackburn, at speeds over 60mph and one witness described the engine as "absolutely screaming." The coroner recorded a verdict that passenger Imran Ehsan Aziz was unlawfully killed in the high speed crash at the junction of Preston New Road and Shear Bank Road on February 20.

Mr Hussain, also of Randal Street, had gone to the Blackburn Car Auctions the previous evening and bought a black VW Golf GTI for £200 and a red VW Golf for £40. He had purchased them in the name of Mr Iqbal, of Leamington Road, a name and address they had made up.

"Had the driver, Mr Hussain, survived, he would have been charged and convicted of causing death by dangerous driving," said Mr Singleton, who exonerated the police from any blame.

He also recorded a verdict of accidental death on Mr Hussain.

The Aziz family of Randal Street continue to pray every day for Imran who, just hours before leaving in the car, said: "I've got a wife, a child on the way and my life ahead of me."

Imran, 22, married Naima two years ago and she is expecting their first child next month.

Fozia Aziz, 24, one of two sisters, said: "It is so tragic that he was about to become a father. He was so full of life, joyful and everyone who met him knew he was always living life to the full. He was just loud and cheeky -- so special and beautiful -- we could never forget him."

The family are seeking legal advice to try and re-open the case and claim that many questions have not been answered.

Irfan, one of four of Imran's brothers, said: "We are looking to find out more information about the auction and issues over where the car came from and how it was sold to a boy with no driving licence or papers. It is still not clear in our minds why the police followed them or why they wanted to stop them."

The family continue to be close friends with Waseem Mohammed, who was hurt in the crash, and the family of Ali Hussain, who was driving the car.

Waseem, of Randal Street, told the inquest that there was a police van coming down Preston New Road and his friend panicked because he didn't have a licence.

He estimated the car's speed at 70mph when they went through a red light at the junction with Montague Street at which stage Mr Ali pulled into the opposite carriageway intending to turn into East Park Road.

He was stopped by Mr Aziz but seconds later attempted the same manoeuvre into Shear Bank Road doing about 60mph.

"When Ali was driving dangerously both Imran and myself pleaded with him to slow down but he took no notice," said Mr Mohammed.

He also confirmed that when he looked behind as the car passed Montague Street the police car was not in sight.