A drive to a casino on Christmas Eve turned to tragedy when a drink driver crashed into a tree after speeding at up to 80mph and one of his passengers died.

Son Tao Quan,who did not have a licence or insurance, is believed to have fled the country to his native China after the accident, which left fellow Oxford Brookes student Ting Ting Wang dead.

Mr Quan, Miss Wang, 19, her boyfriend Lee Laing and friend Tong Lui had been drinking red wine together before they decided to drive to a casino in Reading in 2004.

The students were on the A4074 Reading Road, near Woodcote, at about 3.50am, when Mr Quan lost control on a bend and hit a tree, Oxford Coroner's Court was told yesterday.

In a statement read out at Oxford Coroner's Court yesterday, Mr Laing, who lived in Reliance Way, Cowley, Oxford, with Miss Wang, said: "We strayed across the central white line and hit a tree.

"I looked behind and could see the back of the car was missing. I saw my girlfriend lying by the side of the car. She was not moving or breathing."

Forensic collision investigator Pc Mark Howard said Miss Wang was thrown from the car, which was virtually "torn in two" by the impact.

The three men escaped with minor injuries.

The emergency services were called and Mr Quan was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving while unfit through drink or drugs. He failed to attend Oxford Crown Court at a later date, and police believe he has left the country.

Pc Rosemary Vosser, who still has Mr Quan's passport, said he told her on the night of the accident that he had been driving at between 70 and 80mph on the 50mph road.

He also admitted that he had been drinking, and that he only had a provisional licence and no insurance.

Pc Vosser said when she asked Mr Quan what was the cause of the accident, he simply answered: "very fast".

Collisions investigator Pc Mark Howard told the inquest that tests could not prove whether Miss Wang's seatbelt had been used. He said: "The vehicle was virtually torn in two. The rear near-side door (where she was sitting) hit the tree and she was thrown from the car.

"Whether or not she was wearing a belt would have made little difference."

Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Gardiner wanted to record a verdict of unlawful killing, but he said it would be dangerous to to so without hearing Mr Quan's side of the story.

He said: "The next possible verdict is accidental death, but I rather feel this goes beyond what I would call an accident. This means I have no alternative but to call an open verdict."