A POPULAR landlord was likely to be more than two times the drink-drive limit when he crashed into a tree and died.

Robert Huntington, who ran the Duke of Cumberland’s Head in Clifton, was flung more than 20 feet out of the back window of his green Audi 4 despite wearing a seat belt in the smash late on Saturday, July 9.

The 32-year-old died of severe head injuries at the John Radcliffe Hospital some six hours later.

Mr Huntington had been drinking throughout the day and had a beer and a sambuca shot with his evening meal, Oxford Coroner’s Court heard yesterday.

Tests taken after he died showed he had 106 milligrammes of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrammes.

But coroner Nicholas Gardiner said it was likely the levels were about 200 milligrammes at the time of the crash.

The accident happened at about 11.10pm on the B4031 Clifton Road between Deddington and Clifton. A passing driver found Mr Huntington lying in a ditch.

Police officer Murray Maclean said a bottle of cider was found in the wreckage, adding: “There was a strong smell of alcohol in the car.”

Crash investigator PC Daniel Henderson said it was likely Mr Huntington had been driving above the 60mph speed limit before he lost control and crashed into the hedgerow.