An inquest has heard that a mother who died in a car crash just days after Christmas had cocaine and alcohol in her system. Karen Marks, 34, was pronounced dead at the scene of a collision on the A10 near Ely on December 28, 2025.
The collision involved Karen's white Fiat Punto and a white coach. The inquest was held on Wednesday (August 5) at Vantage House in Huntingdon, presided over by Coroner Caroline Jones.
Crash details
The inquest heard Karen was travelling northbound on the A10 towards Ely, while the coach was heading south. A police report read out in court stated that Karen "veered across the central white line" before colliding with the coach. A witness also reported seeing Karen "suddenly swerve" across the carriageway.
The police statement confirmed Karen was "thrown from her car". Paramedics reported she was in cardiac arrest upon their arrival, with witnesses describing how they observed CPR being administered.
Passenger's account
A second passenger in Karen's vehicle sustained serious injuries. In a witness statement, he said he "didn't remember a lot from the incident" as he had a "lot of alcohol" on the day of the crash. The court heard the passenger had only known Karen for a matter of hours before the collision. He recalled speaking with Karen shortly before hearing a "loud bang", after which his next memory was "waking up in the hospital".
Toxicology findings
A toxicology report disclosed that Karen had 128mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, exceeding the legal limit of 80mg. She also had "cocaine and by-products of cocaine" in her system. The coroner indicated this was likely to have "contributed" to the crash, with the toxicologist noting it would have "impaired her judgement and control".
A post-mortem examination confirmed Karen sustained multiple serious injuries, with her medical cause of death recorded as "traumatic cardiac rupture and aortic transection".
Background and conclusion
Karen's GP told the court she had experienced "long-standing" mental health difficulties and substance misuse in the past, with her "circumstances worsened in the months leading to her death". Coroner Jones concluded that Karen's death was the result of a road traffic collision.
Following her passing, Karen's family described her as a "much-loved daughter, mother and sister". In an earlier tribute, they said: "Once you met Karen, you would never forget her. She was like a firework when she came in and you knew when she was around."
