A LEARNER driver struck a taxi after spinning out of control on a main road near Bacup in the early hours of New Year’s Day, an inquest heard.

Kristopher Hanson, 27, had offered a lift to Isaac Brown and Dylan Watson shortly before a crash which claimed his life in Newchurch Road, Burnley Coroner’s Court was told.

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But shortly after setting off Mr Brown urged Mr Hanson to pull over because of the erratic nature of his driving, the inquest heard.

Mr Hanson’s silver Vauxhall Corsa overtook a dark car.

After veering onto the opposite side of the road he performed an ‘aggressive or exaggerated manoeuvre’ to correct his driving, which forced the car into a spin.

The Corsa struck a taxi, which was being driven by Wajid Hussain in the opposite direction, before coming to rest close to a stone wall, the court was told.

Mr Hanson was taken to the Salford Royal Hospital, but died at around 4.20am from brain and head injuries.

His passengers and the occupants of the taxi, Mr Hussain and his female fare, all suffered minor injuries, Police accident investigator PC Philip Walker confirmed that no blood alcohol sample was obtained due to an error at the hospital.

He also said that the Corsa was driving at between 45 and 50mph on the 30mph limit road.

The inquest heard that Mr Brown and Mr Watson had been at a New Year’s Eve house party in Commercial Street, Stacksteads, when they went to a local garage for a case of beer.

The pair sat down at a bus stop to each drink a beer when Mr Hanson pulled over and offered them a lift back.

In a statement, Mr Watson said he suspected Mr Hanson may have had a drink, as he pulled the car around the roundabout in St James Square and headed back towards Waterfoot. He said he knew Mr Hanson as they both worked at J&J Ormerod in Bacup.

He asked Mr Hanson to pull over because he was concerned about his driving.

But the driver did not respond to his pleas before the car crashed into the taxi.

Giving evidence, Mr Watson added: “There was simply too much speed.

“He tried turning the wheel but there was too much acceleration.

“He just carried on to the other side of the road.”

Recording a narrative conclusion, East Lancashire coroner Richard Brown said that either the driver’s inexperience, the consumption of alcohol, or both, may have been contributory factors to the death.