A speeding driver was under the influence of alcohol and drugs when he lost control of his car and smashed into a tree, instantly killing himself and a passenger, an inquest heard.

Daniel Cahill, 23, was twice the legal limit for driving and had cannabis in his system when he tried to overtake a tanker on Killinghall Road, Bradford, last June.

He tried to pull in front of the tanker and lost control. The car spun on to the wrong side of the road, hitting the kerb before ploughing into the tree.

Both Mr Cahill, and the owner of the Citroen Saxo Philip Wheelhouse, 21, died on impact.

At yesterday's inquest into the pair's death Bradford Coroner Roger Whittaker said that as the driver Mr Cahill had "a duty of care" towards his passenger and ruled that Mr Wheelhouse had been unlawfully killed.

He said: "I'm satisfied that Philip Wheelhouse being the passenger in this vehicle died at the scene but in the circumstances I take the view that he was owed a duty of care and that duty of care was breached.

"The breach was in fact the cause of his death and the way in which this vehicle was driven in my view was such gross negligence that the only conclusion I can reach is that he was unlawfully killed."

The inquest heard it was at about 1am that Mr Cahill tried to overtake Christopher Fogg's tanker approaching the traffic lights at the Fagley Road junction.

Mr Fogg told the coroner that he slowed down to let the Saxo pull in front of him as it went through the lights.

He said: "He swerved in front of me and lost control. He never recovered and hit the kerb and flipped over."

Accident investigator Kevin Weatherby put the speed of the Saxo at least 60mph in what is a 40mph zone.

Both men were pronounced dead at the scene and consultant pathologist Dr Karen Ramsden said that Mr Cahill, of Shetcliffe Lane, Bradford, had died from head injuries and that Mr Wheelhouse had died from multiple internal injuries. They were both wearing seat belts.

A passenger who was in the back of the vehicle survived the smash. He said that they had been to party but could remember nothing after that.

Recording a verdict that Mr Cahill had died accidentally, Mr Whittaker expressed his sympathy to both families who were in court.

He added: "I accept that Mr Cahill was driving. He was driving, in my view, in a manner which was reckless and dangerous while under the influence of alcohol and had used cannabis which also affected his judgement which may have been the main cause of why this happened."