A YOUNG man was killed in Yate when he drunkenly laid down in the middle of the road and a car ran him over, an inquest heard.

Nick Smith, from Coalpit Heath, died after being struck by a car in Badminton Road just after midnight on May 16 this year.

On Tuesday, an inquest into the 26-year-old's death took place at Avon’s Coroner’s Court.

Luke Tiencken told the coroner he had been driving along the 40mph road when he saw Nick lying in the carriageway.

“His feet were toward the kerb and his head to the centre of the road," he said. "His arms were crossed over his body in a coffin-like position. It looked rehearsed like he was wanting to be hit.”

Mr Tiencken stopped his car and dialled 999, but as he was on the phone another vehicle, a black Fiat, came along the road and ran over Nick.

The impact fractured his skull and killed him instantly.

A young woman was driving the Fiat and Mr Tiencken told the coroner that he tried to shield her from seeing what had happened to Nick.

The coroner heard that earlier that night, at around 11.30pm, a driver had to brake sharply to avoid hitting Nick, who was in the road gesturing that he wanted to be run over.

PC Dominic McVeigh and his colleague went to investigate and saw Nick walking unsteadily along a dark road. When approached, he said he was on his way to get food.

The officers returned later to check on him and saw he had reached Ali Baba’s kebab van.

PC McVeigh said: “He had a takeaway and was stood away from the road. We were satisfied that he was coherent as he had got himself food.”

The driver of the black Fiat had been out with friends after playing football and her sister was in the car with her when the collision with Nick occurred.

She told the inquest: “I saw a person (Mr Tiencken) on the road 15 metres ahead with his arms by his side. I swerved when I saw him. A bollard stopped me from swerving as much as I’d have liked to. ”

PC Julian Chambers, who investigated the crash, said "there was nothing she could do" to avoid Nick.

Assistant Coroner Dr Peter Harrowing added: “She had no chance of avoiding Mr Smith although she made a valiant effort to avoid him and a bollard caused her difficulty too.”

Giving a conclusion of death by misadventure, Dr Harrowing said that Nick had no history of mental illness but on that night had consumed a high level of alcohol and that although his actions were deliberate the "consequences may have been unintended".

Nick was a popular member of staff at Tuffnells Parcel Delivery and enjoyed playing football, darts and cricket, and was an avid supporter of Bristol Rovers.