A "fun-loving and caring" dad died after collapsing in the middle of a road and being hit by a passing car.
Gerard Rogers, 69, was hit by a silver Seat Ibiza on Ullet Road, Aigburth, near the Belvidere Road junction at around 9.45pm on September 25 2021.
His heartbroken wife Yvonne said: "He had a dry sense of humour. Quick with one-liners. A lovely fellow. We met when we were 16, started going out at 17, got engaged at 18 and married and 19.
"He was known all over Liverpool for football. He played for the youth clubs, left back or centre midfield. He was a True Blue."
His daughter Fay said: "He was wholly decent, always there, always up to help me and my brother Joel pursue any kind of interest or passion. He was always there to read to us or play football with Joel."
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Gerard, a retired factory worker, had spent the day at Haydock Races celebrating a friend's 50th birthday. The group then went into Liverpool city centre for a night out, with Gerard being helped into a taxi at around 9.30pm with the intention of taking him to his house on Chesterton Street.
Instead, he exited on Aigburth Road, between Lark Lane and Belvidere Road, and began to walk towards Ullet Road.
CCTV footage showed Gerard walking in a way which "suggested that he was under the influence of alcohol". A post-mortem toxicology test would later show he had a blood alcohol level of 271mg - well over three times the UK driving limit.
A driver at the traffic lights between Aigburth Road and Ullet Road spotted him laid out on the grass at the side of the carriageway, before getting up and continuing in the direction of Ullet Road. Another driver saw him leaning against a wall near Belvedere Academy.
At his inquest today, October 7, sergeant Kurt Timpson said: "The CCTV then shows Gerard continuing along Ullet Road before losing his footing, going into a short run, and disappearing from camera. Unfortunately there's no eyewitnesses or CCTV that shows the point at which the incident actually occurred, however it appears that Gerard was in the road for about 10 seconds."
It was during this time that he was struck by Tyrone O'Hare, who was driving down the 30mph road in a south-westernly direction.
Mr O'Hare immediately pulled over, and police and ambulance services were called. Gerard was pronounced dead at the scene at around 9.45pm.
Mr O'Hare was not found to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident. He was not speeding or using his mobile phone, and his car was found to be in good working order. A further investigation by a specialist collision investigator found that Gerard had been collapsed in a dark area shaded by trees, and was wearing dark clothing, making it impossible for Mr O'Hare to identify him as a person.
Coroner Anita Bhardwaj handed down a conclusion of death by road traffic collision. She said: "(Gerard) sounded like a fun-loving, caring family man who doted on his family, who sadly was just out on a night out, and it's tragic and unfortunate what happened."
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