THE car in which two people died in a horrific fireball near York may have been travelling at more than 100mph before it crashed, an inquest heard.

The driver of the Ford Escort had performed a "Formula One-style" overtaking manoeuvre on another car shortly before crashing and bursting into flames, according to a witness.

Joanne Hunton, 26, and Nicholas Rawnsley, 31, died instantly when their car collided with a Land Rover Discovery after negotiating a bend in Elvington Lane, Elvington, in November last year.

The inquest into their deaths held yesterday concluded that excessive speed was the cause of the tragedy.

"I believe Mr Rawnsley was driving so fast he couldn't control the vehicle properly," coroner Donald Coverdale said.

The fatal crash happened just a short distance from the home the couple shared in Wheldrake Lane, Elvington, on November 6.

Lee Mackereth told the inquest that the Escort had been driving so close to him as he drove along the B1228 that he could not see its headlights in his mirrors.

Asked how close the car had been to his, he answered: "I would measure it in inches."

Mr Mackereth said the Escort matched his speed of around 70mph before overtaking.

"He must have been doing well over 100mph," he said.

In a statement read out in court, his brother Paul said: "It was like it was a Formula One-style overtake. It was being driven too fast, maybe even erratically."

Former North Yorkshire police accident investigator Kenneth Sandercock said the condition and length of the road meant speeds in excess of 100mph were possible.

"The corner presented the driver with an obstacle beyond his capabilities," he said.

"It is clear that excessive speed was the main factor in this accident."

John Askham, of Badger Hill, who was driving the Land Rover, suffered a broken sternum and ribs in the crash.

He told the inquest that he, his wife and two friends were going home after dining at a restaurant when the accident happened.

"As I approached a left-hand bend I saw the lights of a vehicle come into the corner from the other direction," he said.

"It travelled across my vision from left to right and then came back across my path. I can remember just two bright lights and then there was the collision."

Mr Askham said there soon followed an "immense explosion".

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Coverdale said Mr Rawnsley, a landscape gardener, and Miss Hunton, an auxiliary nurse at York District Hospital, had died as the result of multiple injuries and burns.

"I would like to express my sympathy to the families for the tragic loss of these two young people in this terrible accident," he said.