FORMER Liverpool goalkeeper David James was not to blame for a car crash which killed two pensioners, Wirral coroner Christopher Johnson ruled last week.

He had been driving at up to 90mph and speaking into his hands-free car phone moments before the accident, the inquest had been told.

Mr Johnson recorded a verdict of accidental death, finding that Mr James could not have avoided the collision.

The accident occurred on October 12 last year when Mr James's maroon Jaguar XJR saloon collided with a Vauxhall Astra at the junction of the A540 and Mudhouse Lane at Burton.

The Astra was driven by 69 year-old John Sivell, a retired chemical engineer. His wife of 42 years, Sheila, also aged 69, was a front-seat passenger in the car and died instantly.

Mr Sivell, of Upton, Chester, died in hospital on February 12 from injuries resulting from the crash.

David James, who now lives in Bromsgrove near Birmingham, had been returning home to Burton after training with his new club, Aston Villa, when the crash occurred.

The inquest at Wallasey Town Hall was told that the Astra moved across Mr James's path when turning from a gap in the central reservation of the 70mph dual carriageway.

Witness Linda Willis, a sales rep who uses the A540 to go to work, told the inquest how she saw two cars, one of them a maroon Jaguar, pass her at about 90mph minutes before the crash.

"The two vehicles were travelling at high speed on the off-side of the road from the direction of Chester. I was surprised by the speed of the vehicles in the mirror. My first instinct was that they may be chasing each other," said Mrs Willis, who drives 50,000 miles a year for her job.

She told the court that she became aware that the first car, a BMW, was desperate to pull out of the way of the Jaguar. Under questioning from the counsel for Mr and Mrs Sivell's family, Mrs Willis said the Jaguar was "definitely tail-gating" the BMW in front.

"The first car pulled to the left and I lost sight of the Jaguar. Then I saw two cars on the left-hand side of the road. One was the Jaguar. It was on the grass verge with its back end in a hedge."

In an interview at Chester police station in January, Mr James denied he had been speeding. He was not required to appear at the inquest so his answers to police were read out to the court by the officer who interviewed him.

"I had no reason to rush home. I was in the right-hand lane and as I emerged around the bend I saw a red car in the central reservation. When I got close, he just pulled out. I steered towards the other lane, but the car just kept going. It was just too close for me to avoid it," said Mr James.

Officers also questioned Mr James about calls made to his bank on a telephone in his Jaguar in the moments before the crash. Mr James denied that he was using the phone at the time of the crash.

Police accident investigation officer Guy Hopley told the inquest that the Jaguar's speed immediately before the crash would have been between 66 and 73mph.

PC Hopley said: "The most straightforward scenario is that the Vauxhall crossed the Jaguar's path at 90 degrees. Mr James had very little time to react. There was insufficient time or distance for him to avoid the collision."

Recording his verdict, Mr Johnson said: "The evidence indicates that tragically Mr Sivell either did not see Mr James's car or, if he did, he misjudged its speed. It is clear the events were accidental."

David Hewitt, solicitor for Mr James, said: "As was recognised by the coroner's decision, there was nothing David James could have done to have avoided the collision. He remains shocked by the tragedy that has resulted in two deaths. His thoughts and sympathies are with Mr and Mrs Sivell's son and daughter and their families."

Brian Stott, a witness who attended the scene of the accident, was praised in the inquest for his quick thinking and bravery after preventing the wrecked Astra from catching fire. He returned with tools from his truck to disconnect the car battery which was sparking, despite warnings that the car was about to explode.

Mr Johnson, said, "Mr Stott deserves the highest possible praise."

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