A MAN who died in a head-on crash in Marston was ‘liked and loved by so many’, his family has said.

Stuart Lowe, known to family and friends as Stu, died on October 26 last year when his BMW drifted into the wrong side of the road in Ollershaw Lane, colliding with an oncoming Vauxhall Insignia.

Tests showed that Mr Lowe, 36, was almost twice the drink-drive limit, having been at the pub prior to the crash, and also had traces of cocaine in his blood.

He had dropped a friend off in Dark Lane, Wincham, before setting off towards his Rudheath home when he ‘failed to negotiate’ a slight right-hand bend, crossed partially into the northbound lane and crashed.

He sustained non-survivable injuries and was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene.

Mr Lowe’s brother, Jonathan, described him as a ‘happy-go-lucky’ person, and said the family had been blown away by the response to his death.

He said: “He knew a lot of people – we were surprised at how many people turned up to the funeral. It was unreal.

“He was just liked and loved by so many people.”

In a statement in October, his family said: "Stuart was a much loved son, brother, father, uncle, partner and friend to many.

"He was a very hard worker and enjoyed his job as a welder. He will be very sorely missed by everyone."

Sadly, Mr Lowe had not been wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, shortly after 8pm, something his family described as ‘a very bad habit’.

Similarly to the substances found in his blood – coroner Claire Welch could not definitively say whether this contributed to his death.

The driver of the Vauxhall, Graham Taylor, had been driving towards the Marston Lane around the 40mph speed limit when he saw Mr Lowe’s BMW headlights appear around the corner.

He said: “I noticed a car coming around the corner at speed. He drifted into my side of the road, and I expected him to correct it but he didn’t. I braked and braced for impact.

“He was more or less half on my side and half on his at the point of impact.”

There were no mechanical faults or pre-impact damage found in either vehicle that could have caused a loss of control.

Mrs Welch said: “It’s clear from the statements and evidence provided that Stu was a fun-loving guy. He was very popular with friends and family alike, and I extend my condolences to all of them.”

She recorded a conclusion of death by multiple injuries, sustained in a road traffic collision.