Once High, Forever Low

Cocaine blamed for rabbi's crash death

A wealthy Jewish philanthropist dubbed "God's postman" was killed when he crashed his Bentley after taking cocaine, an inquest heard today. Rabbi Benzion Dunner, who gave millions to charity, may have been under the influence of the class A drug as he drove his two sons in his £175,000 car. The 45-year-old lost control of the Bentley Arnage as he overtook another vehicle at 80mph, careered off the road and ploughed into a tree.

...Toxicology tests later revealed he had ingested a quantity of cocaine some time before the crash which could have affected his driving.

The hearing found that Mr Dunner had celebrated Purim two days before the fatal crash, when he gave away £2 million to the poor...The inquest was told that he had been to the synagogue twice on March 22, before leaving his family home in Golders Green for their holiday residence in Bournemouth. Mr Dunner, a father of nine, had been driving sons Chaim, 22, Boruch, 10, and family friend, Ginette Silber.

...Dr Peter Sharp, a toxicologist, found traces of cocaine in Mr Dunner's blood and urine. He said the rabbi had ingested cocaine, but not an excessive amount, and believed he took it in the days leading up to his death.