12:10pm Friday 19th February 2010
By Chris Harris
A JOYRIDER involved in a high-speed car chase across rural Hampshire died when he smashed into a tree.
Waclaw Kopacz was travelling around 90mph when he lost control of a stolen Vauxhall Vectra near Wickham last July. The 24-year-old was more than twice the drink-drive limit, an inquest at Winchester Coroner's Court heard.
Witnesses spoke of the "catastrophic damage" to the car following the incident in North Boarhunt. Mr Kopacz was thrown from the vehicle as it smashed into two trees and then demolished a wooden fence.
Robert Bramley, who was first on the scene around 4am on Sunday, July 26 last year, said: "For some reason I was awake and dosing, then I heard this screech and then a very loud bang. I thought it shuddered the bungalow it was such a loud bang."
Mr Kopacz, originally from Poland, had stolen the car of Martin Toones, who had earlier been at a house party in Laburnum Grove, Portsmouth.
Krystian Dontan and Lukasz Kurzeja, two friends of Mr Kopacz, had pursued the keen footballer as he inexplicably sped off towards his workplace, Medina Dairy in Wickham. The inquest heard Mr Kurzeja had reached speeds of 100mph as he attempted to stop his friend.
Mr Dontan arrived at the scene shortly after the accident. He said: "We saw a crashed car like as if a train hat hit it, smoke and dust was coming out of it."
Recording a verdict of accidental death, Simon Burge, deputy coroner for central Hampshire, said: "This is of course yet another example of where tragedy occurs as a result of the loss of control that inevitably follows when drivers drink.
"I hope that if anything good can come out of this tragic story it is that those tempted to mix alcohol with driving will think again.
"Although it only affected one individual it could easily have affected two as there were two cars speeding along this road. Both of them travelling well over the speed limit and both drivers intoxicated."
In a statement Mr Kopacz' family said: "He was a cheerful, always-happy person who had so much to live for.
"He left devastated family in Portsmouth and his parents and sister in Poland.
"We want to thank all the people who helped us to get through this very difficult time. Thank you for all your support and collection's for taking Waclaw's body back to Poland."
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