A father who crashed into a tree on black ice in perilous road conditions was more than two-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit and was not wearing a seatbelt, an inquest heard.

Stephen Palmer, 48, was thrown from the driver's seat of his Mercedes Sprinter van into the windscreen, which caused fatal head injuries.

An inquest at Flax Bourton Coroner's Court heard how married Mr Palmer, of Emborough, near Chilcompton, was killed when his van skidded and collided with a tree on the main route between Bath and Radstock on February 4, 2009. Death was confirmed at 3.47am.

Mr Palmer's family, including his wife Deborah and step-daughter Abigail Carter, were in court to hear how Mr Palmer had 218mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

The court heard how Mr Palmer, who lived in a caravan at Old Down Touring Park, was discovered by the park manager in a ditch, having fallen over the main entrance into snow at about 11pm on February 3.

He was helped to his caravan to sleep off the alcohol. His van was caught on CCTV driving away from the caravan park just after 2.15am the following day.

His wife told the court that she received a text message from him at 2.27am saying he was at hospital. She said that she believed he had driven to Paulton Hospital, which was closed, because he hurt his ribs when he fell and believed he was having a heart attack.

Mrs Palmer, an estate agent, said: "He would have believed he needed help. He was always one to do things for himself. If he had got help at Paulton Hospital, we wouldn't be here now."

Mr Palmer, a market trader, was travelling towards Bath on the two-lane single-carriageway A367 near Peasedown St John, known as Peasedown Flat, when the crash occurred.

His family said it is possible he was driving to Bath United Hospital for help.

PC David Horsley, collision investigator, told the court: "The road was covered in a blanket of snow and some areas were icy. He crossed the off-side of the road rotating in a clockwise direction. He mounted the curb and crossed the footpath into a metal fence then a tree trunk growing in the embankment.

"He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time. He was thrown towards the passenger side and his head came into contact with the windscreen.

"If he had had his seatbelt on, this could have prevented him from being thrown to the passenger side where he hit his head which caused his death."

There were no witnesses to the crash.

Coroner Terry Moore said: "Mr Palmer lost control of his van at some point, he crossed the road, and collided with a tree.

"This is likely to have occurred because of two reasons: the snow and ice on the road and because he was more than two-and-a-half times the limit for someone driving.

"His head and skull fracture injuries were fatal. This was a tragic accident, and I record a verdict of accidental death."

Mr Palmer had one daughter and two step-daughters.

After the inquest, Mrs Palmer was too upset to speak, but his step-daughter, Miss Carter, 19, told the Evening Post: "He was a very friendly guy: a big friendly giant, who was everyone's friend."