A FORMER soldier who crashed into the central reservation on the A56 bypass suffered fatal injuries because he was not wearing a seatbelt, an inquest heard.

Warehouse packer Michael Joseph Goggins, 22, a former Grenadier Guardsman, had taken his father David's burgundy Land Rover Freelander for a drive on May 4, Burnley Coroner's Court was told.

The inquest heard that Michael had never passed a driving test and was therefore not insured to use the vehicle.

Michael, of Britannia Avenue, Bacup, had been drinking earlier that night and had taken cocaine, and when he attempted to leave the road at the Haslingden turn-off, then corrected the vehicle, the Freelander collided with the crash barrier.

Off-duty police officer PC Louise Warburton, who was driving home after work just after 3am, became concerned about how the Freelander was being driven, after it pulled on to the A56 at the Haslingden bypass.

The off-road vehicle was swerving from side to side and the officer had resolved to contact her colleagues, the inquest heard.

She slowed down and allowed the Freelander to overtake her Citroen C1 car.

PC Warburton said: "He was still in lane two when he has cut across both lanes to head for the exit.

"And although he was slightly late he would have made it. He would have driven over the chevrons.

"But as he has swerved over he has corrected himself and turned the other way."

The inquest heard that the Freelander then hit the central reservation before coming to a halt further up the A56 carriageway.

Earlier that night Michael had been drinking in the Queen's pub in Bacup and had later visited the home of his friend Matthew Whitehead, where had a couple of drinks.

East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor recorded a narrative verdict.

Mr Taylor said he was satisified that the 22-year-old had not deliberately driven into the central reservation.

Michael, a former pupil of St Mary's Primary School, Bacup, and All Saints' RC High School, Rawtenstall, completed his army guards training at Catterick before moving to Wellington Barracks in London.

His duties included guarding Buckingham Palace, St James' Palace and the Tower of London.