A Midland-born rising Manchester United and under-21 England star, killed in a high-speed motorway crash, was nearly twice the legal drink-drive limit, an inquest heard.
 Jimmy Davis, 21, was on his way to the opening game of the season when he slammed into the back of a 32-tonne articulated lorry on the M40 in Oxfordshire last August. Police and witnesses said the forward's BMW 3-series was travelling at up to 120mph in patchy fog without fog lights on. Drivers described being overtaken dangerously at "break-neck speeds" by the high-powered car which then crashed, imbedding itself into the DAF lorry and moments later bursting into flames. The England under-21 player, from Bromsgrove, would have died instantly in the impact in the early hours of August 9, the inquest in Oxford was told. Portuguese lorry driver Paulo Dos Santos, also travelling south down the M40, said he felt the impact which made his truck shudder. "I had no idea that the impact I felt was caused by a car. I couldn't do anything to avoid the accident," he said. Witnesses described debris including CDs scattered all over the carriageway. Lorry driver Paul Caldicott, who was the only witness in court, said: "It startled me because when I looked behind me there was nothing there, and then it was gone. It happened that quick." Krishna Barot, of Birmingham, also said the BMW had cut his girlfriend's car up at speeds of up to 120mph, weaving lanes without indicating. Those who rushed to help knew there was little they could do for the driver, the hearing heard. Police said there were no skid marks on the road and estimated the car was dragged by the lorry for more than 300 yards. Pathologist Dr Ian Roberts said Mr Davis suffered multiple injuries and would have died instantly from a massive head trauma before the fire incinerated the car. He was later identified from dental records and a passport found in the car. Blood tests showed 155 milligrammes of alcohol, the limit is 80mgs. Mr Davis was on loan to First Division Watford but would not have played that day as he was injured and had spent the previous night drinking at a nightclub. In a statement, Mr Davis' best-friend of 12 years Timothy Wilkes, said he thought the player was disappointed he was injured would have to watch the match from the stands. | 
