A WOMAN who was two-and-a-half times over the drink drive limit died in a horrific crash as she drove home with her racing driver boyfriend.

An inquest at Northallerton was told the handbrake had been pulled on to its fullest extent as the speeding car went out of control, but it is not known for certain who did it.

Earlier in the day the couple had been arguing after beautician Stacey Callaghan, 30 from Ormesby, Middlesbrough, a mother-of-one, had been making allegations of drug taking at Croft Circuit, near Darlington.

Her boyfriend Andrew Gallacher, of AG Motorsport based in Kilmarnock, was due to race on Sunday, June 7.

Ms Callaghan was killed as she drove home from the track with him at about 3.40am that morning after they had made up.

During the hearing coroner Michael Oakley asked Mr Gallacher how he could account for drugs in his system. But he said he could not recall taking any.

Security staff at Croft Circuit, who investigated the allegations, said they found no evidence of drugs, although Ms Callaghan had been “extremely drunk” when they saw her earlier in the day.

Police who examined Ms Callaghan’s Ford Ka found the handbrake had been pulled to its maximum point, locking the wheels, as the crash happened on the B1264 road near Worsall, Yarm.

North Yorkshire police examiner TC Stuart Lonsdale said the Ka would have been approaching the bend at about 72miles per hour. After carrying out tests he found he could not pull the handbrake on to the same extent, nor could a policewoman of similar build to Ms Callaghan.

Mr Gallacher said he did not pull the handbrake on, but TC Lonsdale added: “My findings led me to believe it was very unlikely Stacey had pulled that handbrake to that extent."

Mr Gallacher told the inquest he had been drinking, was extremely tired and believes he dozed off in the car, but remembered telling Ms Callaghan twice to slow down.

He said Ms Callaghan was out of the car on the verge when he saw her after the crash, but police told the coroner she had been pulled out of the vehicle after the impact and had been wearing a seat belt. CPR was carried out by passers by but she died from severe head injuries.

In summing up Mr Oakley said:”Mr Gallagher knew she has started to lose control, the handbrake has been pulled on and I believe as to who applied that can’t be established beyond doubt.

"That has led to the car leaving the road perhaps at an earlier point than it otherwise would have done and impacted with the telegraph pole.”

He said it was more than likely that Mr Gallacher did not have a full recollection of what happened and that was not surprising. He recorded a verdict of accidental death.