A NEWPORT man who crashed his car into a parked van died from multiple injuries, an inquest heard.

Ryan Lee Channing, 33, of Marshfield, was driving his Proton Persona when he collided with a parked Ford Transit van on Marshfield Road at around 8pm on November 23 last year.

Although he got out of the car with the help of another man, Mr Channing was then seen using a pillar for support, before he then headbutted the top of the pillar which led to him falling to the floor.

He was taken to the hospital where he later died.

The inquest at Gwent Coroners’ Court, sitting in Newport, heard that toxicology results showed he had a blood alcohol level of 260mg per 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.

Gwent’s deputy coroner Wendy James, who recorded a verdict of accidental death, said she was satisfied Mr Channing’s injuries were consistent with someone who had not been wearing a seatbelt.

Giving evidence, his partner Nicola Birch said Mr Channing had been a “larger than life” character but his behaviour had changed in the last six months before his death after he had been working away from home a lot.

He had been prescribed anti-depressants and had started drinking heavily on some days.

On November 23, Mr Channing had told Ms Birch he was unable to go to work as his car wouldn’t start.

Later that day he’d been drinking in two pubs and returned home at around 7pm and following a disagreement with his partner, he said he would sleep in his car.

In a written statement Alun Reardon, who lives on Marshfield Road, said he had looked out of his bedroom window to see Mr Channing’s car being driven into the back of the van which was parked outside his house.

The inquest heard police calculations showed Mr Channing was likely to have been driving at least at 40mph.

At the time of the incident the family of Mr Channing paid tribute to him saying he touched the lives of all who knew him and was a devoted family man who was so proud of his partner and son.