A teenage girl who stepped in front of a moving car was "buzzing'' after taking drugs during a night out with friends, an inquest heard.

Charlene Goodey, 18, died instantly after being struck by the car on Halifax Road, Bradford, in April.

The hearing was told that Charlene had been drinking alcohol and swallowing amphetamine powder earlier that evening.

The alcohol could have dulled her judgement and the amphetamine could have brought on a state of excitement and nervousness, said consultant pathologist David Gouldesbrough.

In a statement, Steven Haigh said he and Charlene were among of group of friends leaving the Waggoners pub on Halifax Road, at closing time.

They intended crossing the road to get a taxi into town, but he shouted to Charlene that a car was approaching and grabbed her top.

The car struck her and she went flying through the air.

Mr Haigh said he did not think the car could have avoided her.

Emma Parkinson said Charlene, who was her cousin, had decided to take some amphetamine during the evening.

"She just swallowed it and she said she was buzzing,'' Miss Parkinson added. "She was drinking pints of lager. She was right happy, like she always was.''

The car driver, Dr Nasir Malik, said he was driving home to Burnley when the collision occurred.

He later told the police: "Somebody ran and hit the left side of the car, on the windscreen. I suddenly stopped, and realised that somebody had hit the car.''

Anita Blow, a civilian worker with police accident investigation branch, said inquiries had shown that the car was travelling within the 40 mph speed limit.

Coroner Roger Whittaker recorded an accident verdict on Charlene, of Buttershaw Drive, Bradford.

He said: "This is a tragic case of an unnecessary death of a young lady. The contributory factors were, first of all, the alcohol and the drugs she had taken, and crossing the road in front of the car without seeing where it was coming from.''

Mr Whittaker told Dr Malik: "This is no fault of yours and I exonerate you from any responsibility.''

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