A SPLIT-SECOND decision to ‘chance it’ with passing cars on Manchester Road cost a promising young footballer his life, a coroner has ruled.

Scott Howatson, 19, was hurled 15 feet into the air after being hit by a taxi on a night out with friends in January 2008.

An inquest at Rochdale Coroners’ Court on Thursday May 28 heard that Scott had already narrowly missed being hit by one car on the night of his death, when he crossed Manchester Road to start a game of ‘knock-a-door run’.

As he ran back to his friends he was struck by a taxi and sustained multiple, fatal injuries.

Despite recording a verdict of misadventure, coroner Simon Nelson said the five pints of lager drunk by Scott on January 18, the night he died, had contributed to his ‘uninhibited behaviour’.

Scott’s friend James Cleary of Dorchester Grove said: "I don’t know what made me turn around. Scott decided to chance crossing the road and thought he could beat the dark coloured car coming from Heywood, but it collided with him. He was thrown onto the windscreen and then into the air and landed on the pavement behind me."

Urfan Mohammed, the driver for Five Stars Taxis who hit Scott, was present at the inquest but did not give evidence.

Greater Manchester Police traffic officers confirmed that he would not face charges and had co-operated fully with their enquiries.

Scott, who lived on Torrington Street and played football for Roach Dynamos, had visited The Bay Horse, The Hare and Hounds and The Starkey Arms before deciding to walk down Manchester Road to The Queen Anne .

Scott’s mum Mandy Howatson said: "Scott was a very likable young man with a good circle of friends and he would do anything for them. He was also a very loving son and his death has left a huge hole in our lives."