A DRIVER lay dead at a roadside for almost two days after a smash – because the tree he hit covered his car.

Karl Manaton, 32, died from multiple serious injuries after losing control of his Vauxhall Zafira on the A516 near Mickleover and hitting two trees, the first of which fell and hid his car from other motorists.

The wreckage was discovered only when school children walked past and spotted it. Police believe Mr Manaton may have been there for up to 41 hours.

PC Colin Parker was in charge of the investigation into the smash and told Derby Coroner's Court at an inquest into the death the tree was "completely blocking it from view".

He said nobody had seen the incident but evidence suggested Mr Manaton had crashed shortly before midnight on Saturday, June 6 last year.

His car was not discovered until 5pm on Monday, June 8.

PC Parker said: "Despite appeals in the media, newspapers, radio stations and appeal boards at the scene, we had no witnesses come forward."

Instead, police looked at text messages read by Mr Manaton, of Wellard Road, Hilton – the last being at 11.53pm that night – and rainwater that had fallen into the badly damaged car to estimate the time of the crash.

The court heard how Mr Manaton had been drinking in three pubs in Hilton, having two or three pints in each, with his wife, Rashin, on the night police believe he died.

But after walking home the couple had an argument and Mr Manaton stormed out "upset", Mrs Manaton told the inquest.

His wife said she did not realise the car was gone until the morning and the family reported Mr Manaton missing.

Tests carried out after his death showed he had 204mgs of alcohol in 100mls of blood, nearly three times the legal drink-drive limit.

Mrs Manaton said her husband had been depressed and had also been under pressure at work.

But she said he did not normally drink-drive.

There was also evidence from skid marks on the road, according to collision investigator PC Ian Phillips, that the car had been travelling above the 70mph speed limit.

Mr Manaton worked at Blue Mountain Homes, which looks after youngsters in care, and had also spent time as a youth worker at Derby charity Enthusiasm.

Weeks after her husband's death, Mrs Manaton collected an award naming him one of Derby College's best students.

He died before he found out he had been honoured by the college, where he was studying health and social care.

Mrs Manaton said at the time: "He was like a father, brother and friend to so many people, as well as an amazing dad to his own children and a loving husband."

Deputy coroner Louise Pinder recorded a verdict of misadventure, taking into account the excess speed Mr Manaton had been driving at and the alcohol he had consumed.

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