A PROMISING footballer was killed when he was hit by a car while he lay in the road after an all-day drinking session.

An inquest into the death of trainee bricklayer Ross Crouch heard he had probably drunk more than eight pints of beer.

The 23-year-old, of School Lane, Lawford, was hit by an Audi A3 near the top of the A137 Cox’s Hill in Lawford.

The former Colchester United youth team player died in hospital within hours of the crash, just after midnight on the morning of May 19, 2008.

His friend and team-mate, Lewis Symes, told the hearing they had just returned from “a glorified drinking trip” to Bratislava, Slovakia, organised by their Sunday football club, Brantham Colts.

They had continued to drink at pubs on their return to the UK.

Mr Symes said: “During the day, I had drunk about eight or nine pints of beer, and Ross had probably drunk more than me. However, he was steady on his feet.”

The pair started to walk home together, both still wearing shorts and carrying rucksacks, and parted at the roundabout near Manningtree train station.

Emma Burrell, a shop assistant who knew Mr Crouch socially, said she saw a young man wearing Hawaiian-style shorts and a backpack fall over in the road after drunkenly struggling to cross. She did not stop because she did not recognise Mr Crouch and feared for her safety.

Daniel Hinkins, 36, who was driving the car which hit Mr Crouch, gave evidence at the inquest at New Bridge House, Chelmsford. He tried to brake after seeing an object in the middle of the road, but did not have enough time to stop and said he had hoped to pass over it.

He said: “There was something that looked a bit like a bin liner; but since, thinking it over and over, I think it may have been the rucksack.

“I kept myself in the middle of the road and hoped it would go under the car.

“It was like nothing I have ever experienced before. It was just a massive bang.”

After coming to a stop, he saw the young man in the road, and called for an ambulance.

He said: “I comforted him as much as I could, but I was freaked out.”

PC Duncan Thurlwell, Essex Police forensic officer, said there was no realistic chance Mr Hinkins could have prevented the accident.

Coroner Eleanor McGann recorded a verdict of accidental death.