CARE worker Mireille De Jong had been drinking the night she died after crashing into a lorry near Wisbech, an inquest heard.

“She had been drinking alcohol and a blood sample showed she was over the legal limit,” said coroner William Armstrong.

“There was no-one else to blame.”

Ms De Jong died in a two-vehicle crash on the A47 near Wisbech.

The 37-year-old, who was over the legal drink-drive limit, was pronounced dead at the scene after her silver Land Rover Freelander crashed into a blue Volvo Globetrotter at 10.25pm on July 28 in Walsoken.

Mr Armstrong said: “Drinking alcohol and driving is dangerous and irresponsible. To me, it’s clear that even a small amount can impair a person’s ability to drive.

“The only safe option is the zero alcohol option and at this time of year it’s important to repeat this message to not drink and drive.”

On the day of the fatal crash, Ms De Jong left her partner Daniel Daly and daughters Joana and Bridey, at the family home in Walsoken Road, Emneth, at around 9pm to go shopping.

The inquest heard that she then phoned Mr Daly a few minutes later and he asked how much alcohol she had consumed to which she replied: “one glass of wine ages ago”.

But later that evening the care worker lost control of her vehicle and swerved into the path of lorry driver Richard Booth which led to the vehicles colliding.

Mr Booth he said: “I thought the car was going to miss me and crash into a tree off my side of the road but the driver tried to pull back onto her side.

“The vehicle struck the front of the lorry and there was a big bang but then the vehicle disappeared.”

Eyewitness Kelvin Boldero added: “The lorry broke really quickly and then I heard a loud crash.

“The next thing I saw was lots of debris flying through the air before the car came flying past me upside down with its roof at the same level as mine.

“The car then slid along the road on its roof before ending up in a dyke off the side of the road.”

A post mortem concluded that the cause of death was from multiple injuries consistent with a road traffic collision.

A blood sample showed Ms De Jong had 85mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood - which is slightly over the legal limit.

Coroner William Armstrong said the mother died as a result of the crash and that there was nothing the lorry driver could have done.