A PUB happy hour ended in tragedy when Stewart Craig Baldwin was in an accident with a car seconds after storming out because he was being charged full price for a pint.

An inquest heard that Mr Baldwin died of multiple injuries sustained in the collision outside the Rising Bridge pub. Despite emergency treatment from a passing doctor, he never regained consciousness and died four hours later in Blackburn Royal Infirmary

Mr Baldwin, aged 51, of Lower Stone Fold, Rising Bridge, had been drinking in the pub and had tendered £1.10 for a pint of bitter after the happy hour had ended at 8pm.

Landlady Pauline Critchley said she was having none of it and said: "Craig, love, another 43p."

"Alan Derbyshire told me I had upset Craig and he had stormed off," she added.

Mr Derbyshire said he had been talking to Craig, as everyone knew Mr Baldwin, when the landlady asked for more money.

"He just said 'right, I have had enough' and stormed out," said Mr Derbyshire. Seconds later someone ran into the pub and said there had been an accident and to call an ambulance.

David Grundy and his girlfriend Debbie Proctor, of Ashworth Street, Baxenden, were at the bus stop outside the pub when they saw Mr Baldwin waiting to cross the road.

Mr Grundy said he was looking towards Haslingden when he heard a bang. He looked immediately and saw the man flying through the air.

Student Rachel Moxom, of Manchester Road, Accrington, was driving towards Accrington when she saw a figure in the opposite lane. "As I saw him, he was hit by the car coming the other way," said Miss Moxom. "It all happened in a split second."

Miss Moxom said she had not seen the man cross her lane and confirmed that when she stopped and went to see if the man was alive he was wearing dark clothing.

Mr Grundy and Miss Proctor had also reported him as wearing dark clothing but Mr Derbyshire said he thought Mr Baldwin had been wearing a cream coloured coat.

The car was driven by Alex McCarren, 25, of Gregory Fold, Helmshore. A transcript of a police interview was read out by officers.

In the interview, Mr McCarren said he had been travelling at 30mph on what was a drizzly night. He had not seen anything until he felt a bump and Mr Baldwin smashed into his windscreen.

At the time of his death, Mr Baldwin had a blood alcohol level over three times the legal drink driving limit.

The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.

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