A drink-driver was texting on her mobile phone and not wearing a seatbelt when she crashed head on into a van, killing her instantly, an inquest heard.
Melissa Jeanne Christina Landor, 23, of Hartford Road, Hartley Wintney, died on the A323 between Fleet and Hartley Wintney at around 2am on November 13.
And last Thursday, North Hampshire coroner Andrew Bradley recorded a verdict of accidental death at an inquest at Alton Magistrates’ Court.
Devastated father Derrick Landor said he hoped others would learn from the tragedy and think twice before getting behind the wheel after a drink.
The inquest heard that Melissa was four times over the legal limit when she lost control of her blue Vauxhall Corsa and hit newspaper delivery van driven by Luqman Aleem, 26, from Reading.
Neither driver was wearing a seatbelt.
Mr Aleem suffered cuts to his face and was in shock when he was taken to Frimley Park Hospital.
Police phone analysis suggested that Miss Landor was using her mobile seconds before the horror smash.
Her friend, Laura Abercromby, told Mr Bradley the former Queen Mary’s College student had come over for drinks at her Fleet home earlier that night.
Despite having a alcohol-blood content of 336mg in 100ml of blood, 4.2 times over the legal limit of 80mg, the youngster ignored requests from friends not to drive.
Mr Aleem, formerly an economics teacher in Pakistan, was delivering newspapers to Fleet services off the M3, when his Mercedes Sprinter van collided with the out-of-control Corsa.
Crash scene experts said he had less than a second to react on the unlit, twisty road.
In conclusion, coroner Mr Bradley said he was sad at the “waste of a life”.
“It was an extraordinary sequence of events for someone of 23 who I would have hoped would be aware of the risks of driving without a seatbelt and texting at the wheel,” he said.
Speaking after the inquest, grief-stricken father Derrick Landor said Melissa’s mother, 21-year-old sister and 11-year-old brother hoped people would learn from the tragedy.
“Melissa was an adult and responsible for her own actions, the consequences of which were plain to see, and family want people to learn from this and avoid other families suffering this trauma," he said.
“Melissa was full of life, she was free spirited and a warm and caring person and loved by many, but as an adult she made a mistake that cut her life short.”
