A YOUNG father of one tragically died after he crashed into a lamppost in Creech Heathfield, an inquest heard.

Tony da Silva, 24, from Taunton, died in the early hours of June 16 after he was crushed to death when he crashed his blue Vauxhall Astra into a lamppost and a wall.

Mr da Silva, who was from Taunton but was working in a pub in Street, was driving to see his daughter and ex-partner, who lived in Creech St Michael, when he crashed at the junction of North End and Charlton Road at 2am.

Senior Coroner Tony Williams heard a statement from Craig Hodge, a friend of Mr da Silva, who said although Mr da Silva had been upset following the breakdown of a relationship, he had not given any impressions that he wanted to hurt himself.

The coroner also heard a statement from PC Gillian Chambers of Avon and Somerset Police collision investigation team, which detailed how Mr da Silva had left the road to the right and collided with a wall.

On the morning of Mr da Silva's death collision investigation reports showed the road was slightly damp but this would not drastically impair the ability to control a vehicle.

The inquest heard Mr da Silva was carrying a provisional licence at the time of his death but was unaccompanied in the car.

However, it is understood that Mr da Silva was a fully qualified driver and had passed his test a year before, but was only carrying a provisional licence at the time of the crash.

There was substantial damage to the roof of the car when it crashed into the wall but otherwise there were no defects with the vehicle, the coroner was told

The road was also subject to a 40 mph speed limit but PC Chambers said Mr Da Silva was travelling over the speed limit when he left the road which may have contributed to his car flipping onto its roof.

PC Chambers suggested Mr Da Silva could have fallen asleep at the wheel and lost control of his car which could have caused his death, but this could not be proved.

The post mortem report said the father of one died from a severe head injury as a result of a road traffic collision, toxicology reports showed that Mr da Silva's blood was clear from alcohol and drugs at the time of his death.

The coroner concluded Mr da Silva died as a result of a severe head injury suffered in a car crash, but the reasons why the car left the road were unclear.]

Following his death, his mother Fatima paid tribute to him in the County Gazette, and said: “Tony touched an awful lot of people. He was the perfect son and father, always there when I needed him and had so many friends.

“He’d have been pleased his daughter was being taken care of, with a trust fund for when she’s 18. She was his life.”