ONE of two drivers killed in a fatal crash was on the wrong side of the road and his driving was likely impaired by cocaine use, Worcestershire's coroner concluded. 

Reuben Innes, 31 and from Pershore, and Alex Clarke, 34 and from Worcester, both died following the crash on the A44 at around 12.25am on Sunday, January 14.

At an inquest at Worcestershire Coroners Court, it was revealed a blood toxicology report concluded cocaine had been found in Mr Innes's system. 

Mr Clarke's father said the family were torn apart by the death, made worse by the fact his son 'appeared to be the innocent party.' 

Both died from multiple injuries from the crash, coroner David Reid told the court, while Mr Innes' cause of death was contributed to by cocaine use. The verdicts were both recorded as road traffic collision.

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The court heard how Mr Clarke picked up his friend Will Warren from Vale Golf and Country Club in his Audi A3.

The friends, alongside Mr Warrens's partner Elise Cobaine, were travelling from Evesham towards Worcester when the crash happened.

Both of Mr Clarke's passengers also suffered injuries following the crash.

PC Chris Duffner, the collision investigator, said he had concluded at the time of the collision Mr Innes was driving in the wrong direction. 

However, he was unable to determine how long the Vauxhall may have been on the wrong side of the road. 

In his findings, Mr Reid said since there was no evidence of Mr Innes driving on the wrong side of the road for any other reason, such as an unexpected medical episode, on balance he concluded his driving was likely impaired by the use of cocaine. 

Mr Clarke was a retail manager and in the months leading up to his death had been working at a store in Ledbury. 

A statement read by Mr Reid on behalf of Brendan Clarke, Alex's father, said the family missed being greeted with his big smiling face and a hug.

He described his son as having a great sense of humour and as a person who enjoyed life, including going to the gym and playing badminton. 

Mr Innes sister, Emma Butcher, said her brother was the life of her family's world. 

"It didn't matter what was wrong, he could make it better. 

"He has three children that he leaves behind, he worked as a groundsman but had just applied to the fire brigade."