A FATHER was warned by his partner not "to drive like a prat" before he died in a head-on car crash.

In the moments leading up to the fatal accident on March 1, Christopher Doman, from Didcot, received a text message from Georgina Hare after he stormed out of the family home following an argument over "washing up and their 11-month-old not sleeping well."

The couple had lived together for four years, sharing a home in Nuffield Close. Mr Doman worked in the warehouse at the Asda distribution centre in Sutton Courtenay. Ms Hare was pregnant with their second child.

In a statement read at Oxford Coroner's Court yesterday, Ms Hare, said: "He asked me what was wrong and why I was still miserable and I told him I was just knackered.

"He did not like that answer and he smashed a cup of coffee that went everywhere and said he was off.

"I sent him a text saying: 'Don't drive like a prat, you have kids' but I did not get any reply.

"Shortly afterwards I heard sirens."

The 30-year-old drove down the B4015 Jubilee Way in a silver Rover before crashing into a red Skoda that was on the other side of the carriageway.

The driver of the Skoda, Katherine Reed, said she was surprised when she saw both of Mr Doman's front wheels on her side of the road as they got closer to each other.

She said: "His two front wheels were in my lane.

"I thought he would correct himself but the front two wheels were across the line.

"I pulled my steering wheel to the left to try to avoid him, but as soon as I did he took me out.

"I braced myself and heard a bang, when I opened my eyes it was really dark, all four air bags had gone off."

After the crash Mrs Reed said she was on her "hands and knees" after she stumbled out of her car that had been knocked off the road.

Paramedics arrived and Mr Doman was pronounced dead at about 2.24pm.

Daniel Henderson, a forensic collision investigator for Thames Valley Police, said there was no evidence to suggest that either car was travelling at high speed, and said that Mr Doman had been wearing his seat belt he could have survived.

He said: "The collision was potentially survivable had Mr Doman worn a seat belt.

"I cannot say that the vehicle was exceeding the limit of 30mph."

Assistant coroner, Nicholas Graham, recorded a conclusion of road traffic collision as Mr Doman's cause of death.

He said: "He was driving his car without a seat belt along the B4015 Jubilee Way when he collided with another vehicle, a red Skoda.

"Sadly he died at the scene from injuries sustained in that crash.

"I think he was perhaps reckless or did not really care what happened to him but it is not the same as saying he wanted to take his own life."

Asda colleagues of Mr Doman paid tribute to a "valued and popular colleague".

Richard Fielding, Asda logistics services general manager, said: "He was always happy to help and had a great attitude, which was infectious and made the shift he worked a really happy and positive environment.

"Chris will be sorely missed by all his colleagues at the depot.

"Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time."