EXCESSIVE speed and alcohol were major factors in an horrific car crash which killed three young men, an inquest heard.

Driver Harjeet Kumar Paul, aged 23, Avtar Lal, aged 21, and Sunil Menghra, aged 20, were all certified dead at the scene.

Mr Paul and Mr Lal were both from the Parkfields area of Wolverhampton and Mr Menghra was from All Saints.

The Vauxhall Astra they were travelling in left the A4123 Birmingham New Road just after midnight on March 1 and ploughed sideways into a tree after becoming airborne. The vehicle was a hire car Mr Paul had only picked up the evening before.

The crash happened just streets away from the homes of Mr Paul and Mr Lal in the Parkfields area.

All three were single and had been out for the evening. Post-mortem examinations revealed they had all suffered multiple fractures and internal injuries.

Toxicology reports showed all three had been drinking alcohol and that the driver was over the legal drink drive limit.

Witness Rajinder Pal, aged 19, a student, told the hearing at Wolver-hampton Magistrates' Court yesterday he was walking along the dual carriageway when he heard a car engine revving loudly.

He said: "The car went past me and seemed to be doing 60 or 70mph and appeared to be sliding sideways. It flew into the air before hitting a tree. There was a loud bang and the engine flew out."

Police crash test examinations showed the speedometer of the car had stuck at 64mph, which was the probable impact speed. The speed limit of the road is 40mph.

The rev counter had also stuck at over 7000 rpm, indicating the car had changed down a gear prior to impact.

Recording a verdict of accidental death on all three men, Wolverhampton Coroner Richard Allen said: "It appears excessive speed and excess of alcohol were two key factors in this crash."

Speaking afterwards a spokesman for Mr Lal's family said: "He was a lovely lad with everything to live for.

"He had just celebrated his birthday and had never been happier."
