death of a 40-year-old night porter who accidentally slammed into a turning taxi on his way to work.

Acting Coroner Mrs. Cheryl-Ann Mapp ruled at the conclusion of an inquest Mr.

Sherman Benjamin's death last January 14 was an accident due to "a lethal combination of excessive alcohol and speed together with wet roads''.

She found the cause of death to be massive internal bleeding due to a badly ruptured spleen, as explained by pathologist Dr. John Winwick.

Benjamin had four times the legal amount of alcohol, the equivalent of 17 beers, in his system, Dr. Winwick testified.

Mrs. Mapp said she hoped the Devonshire man's death, which she said was "another very tragic case involving a young man with a wife and son who took control of a bike after drinking'', would be an example to others not to drive drunk.

After hearing an accident had occurred in the same place a few days earlier, she suggested a frequent accident sign be posted at points near the junction of Store Hill and North Shore Road in Smith's Parish.

Mrs. Mapp told widow Mrs. Josephine Benjamin there was no evidence that part-time taxi driver Mrs. Rebecca Smith's actions were a contributing factor.

Mrs. Benjamin had asked the investigating officer whether there was any evidence Mrs. Smith had made a sudden turn while her husband had been in the process of overtaking. She said he was usually a safe driver.

Bus driver Rodney Grimes had testified he saw Benjamin overtake him shortly before 9 p.m. doing about 70 to 80 k.p.h. moments before he crashed into a station wagon taxi half turned into Store Hill.

Grimes said he was going into a bus lay by when Benjamin sped past.

The next thing he saw was a taxi stopped in the middle of the road and the driver shouting for help.

Mrs. Smith, who had been traveling east, said she had indicated to turn right.

She said she did not see Benjamin behind her. She heard a loud bang when he crashed into the driver's side of her car.

Mrs. Benjamin said she received a call from King Edward VII Memorial Hospital after 10 p.m. saying her husband had been in an accident.

When she arrived at Emergency Room with her sister-in-law, doctors told her they had been unable to revive him after he went into sudden cardiac arrest.

Investigating officer P.c. Adrian Cook said Benjamin's speed, alcohol consumption and careless decision to overtake at a junction were "compelling factors'' in the accident.

But the main factor was his speed, P.c. Cook said.

He told Mrs. Mapp he saw no skid marks or other evidence of a sharp turn by Mrs. Smith.

Mrs. Mapp, offering her sympathies to Mrs. Benjamin, said her husband had committed "a senseless act''. Since he was dead, no-one would ever know for sure if he had been overtaking and Mrs. Smith had suddenly turned, she noted, but "we all must be accountable for our actions''.

"It's very unfortunate he chose to drink and drive,'' she said.