Dad died after getting behind wheel with tot in car ’20 minutes’ after huffing balloons
Callum Knott had his partner and 21-month-old daughter in the car when he lost control of the vehicle and smashed into a tree
Thomas Cooper and Olivia Bridge Reporter in Live News Network 10:40, 21 May 2026
View ImageCallum Knott died the next morning after crashing his car into a tree(Image: Stoke Sentinel)
An inquest has has heard how a young dad-of-two sadly died after a horror smash. His girlfriend and toddler, who were also in the car, were found unresponsive but survived.
An inquest[1] heard how Callum Knott, from Stafford, was seen in footage huffing on laughing gas balloons some '20 minutes' before he got behind the wheel and crashed the car into a tree.
The 26-year-old was rushed to hospital[2] but died in the early hours the next day, July 8.
The stay-at-home dad was driving his partner's Nissan at around 9pm on July 7, when tragedy struck.
As they travelled on the A51 past Aston Marina on the outskirts of Stone, Staffordshire, the car came off the carriageway and struck a tree.
Callum suffered a cardiac arrest and was raced to hospital from the scene where life-saving surgery was attempted. However, he sadly passed away from his injuries in the early hours the next morning, reports Stoke On Trent Live.[3]
A Staffordshire Police officer told the inquest: "We were able to establish that at 8.41pm that evening, the Nissan Juke was at Tesco Trent Vale. The CCTV there shows the vehicle was being driven by Callum's partner, Emily Jackson.
Callum could be seen in the passenger seat wearing a white t-shirt. Emily entered Tesco where she purchased a packet of balloons at the self-service checkout.
"At 8.48pm, the vehicle could be seen travelling along London Road in the general direction of Stone. Eleven minutes later, the vehicle was captured passing Barlaston Golf Club on Meaford Road.
It was unclear who was driving the vehicle at this time. At 9.03pm, the vehicle entered Newcastle Street at Stone. At that point, it was clear Callum was the driver."
Callum, from Stafford, only held a provisional licence at the time of the collision, despite passing his driving test in January 2018.
He had previously been banned from the roads.
CCTV footage did not capture Callum's vehicle in the moments before the A51 collision. But several eyewitness accounts painted a picture of what took place.
Summarising one account, the police officer added: "While briefly glancing down to check her phone notification, she looked up and saw a car that was airborne, severely damaged, and on fire. The vehicle appeared to move from the right-hand side of the road to the left.
She was concerned about the fire and the potential for an explosion. She asked her grandmother to stop at a safe distance and call 999."
Paramedic Connor Smith happened to be driving past the crash while off-duty.
A summary of his statement read: "He stopped immediately and approached the vehicle. On inspection, Mr Smith found that the vehicle was heavily damaged with its airbags deployed.
He looked through the front window and discovered an unconscious female in the passenger seat and an unconscious male in the driver's seat. In the rear, he identified a young child who was also unresponsive.
"Mr Smith retrieved his hi-visibility jacket and called emergency services. When he returned to the car, the occupants began regaining consciousness.
The driver appeared to be critically injured, with visible signs of trauma and entrapment.
"The female passenger, despite having a bleeding head injury, attempted to exit the vehicle. She expressed her desire to go home. The female ignored Mr Smith's advice to remain seated and removed the child from the car against his instructions.
This raised concerns about potential spinal or internal injuries. Mr Smith attempted to help the driver."
Callum suffered a cardiac arrest at the scene. Paramedics revived him and he was taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital.
Dr Martin Farmer attempted life-saving surgery.
But Callum's injuries were too severe and he sadly passed away in the early hours of July 8.
Police later interviewed Callum's partner who was unable to account for how Callum lost control of the vehicle. Nitrous oxide and cannabis were found in the car - but Callum's partner denied having any knowledge of these items.
Callum's partner had messaged his sister while in hospital saying she had experienced a 'flashback memory' of Callum sucking a balloon before he lost control of the car. She claimed she did not remember sending these messages when questioned.
Phone records showed Callum had not been using his mobile prior to the crash.
Further analysis discovered a video of Callum inhaling nitrous oxide 20 minutes prior to the collision.
Forensic Collision Investigator PC Daniel Sutton told the court: "The Nissan Juke was travelling along the straight section when Callum left the carriageway. He travelled approximately 43.2 metres along the grass verge before colliding with a large tree. During this time, there was no physical evidence that any breaking or steering had taken place.
"After hitting the tree, the Nissan suffered extensive frontal damage and was deflected back into the carriageway.
During this time, the car rolled over onto its side and slid across the road for around 15 metres. Upon reaching the grassy verge on the other side of the road, the vehicle was slowed and righted back onto its tyres.
"I was unable to reliably calculate the speed of the vehicle prior to the impact. The speed limit of the road is 60mph and the damage sustained by the vehicle is consistent with this speed.
"I can't say as to the reason why the Nissan failed to navigate the course of the road.
There was no evidence of the vehicle swerving to avoid another vehicle or a perceived hazard that would cause it to cross over into the opposing lanes and leave the carriageway. It is for the court to decide whether the perceived use of nitrous oxide was a factor in this collision."
A toxicology report revealed that Callum had THC in his system, but it could not be determined whether he had smoked cannabis recently before the collision. It was also impossible to determine whether he had recently consumed nitrous oxide.
Toxicologist Dr Lawson explained: "There is no way to test for acute nitrous oxide use in clinical or post-mortem samples.
Chronic use can be determined via indirect biochemical markers, but even if these were present, it would not be able to prove that they were under the influence at the time. Acute nitrous oxide use works almost immediately, producing feelings of euphoria together with triggering fits of laughter. It can also cause sound distortion, hallucinations, dizziness and paranoia."
In a tribute, gran Jean Knott said: "Callum was my dearest grandson.
He was kind and helpful. I love him."
Dad Steven Knott added: "Callum was a loving dad of two young children."
Article continues belowCoroner Fiona Gingell concluded that Callum died as a result of poly-trauma following a road traffic collision. She ruled that there was not enough evidence to determine whether he had used nitrous oxide in the moments before the crash.
Ms Gingell said: "I have considered whether nitrous oxide played a part in the collision.
We have video evidence and what has been seen in the vehicle. I do find that Callum was in possession of nitrous oxide and that he had inhaled it 20 minutes prior to the collision. Based on the fact we don't have any other evidence, I don't believe it would be safe for me to conclude that Callum was under the influence at the time of the collision.
I'd like to end today's hearing by expressing my sincere condolences to Callum's family.
It's a tragic loss of life.
He was very young and clearly had a lot more to live for and the rest of his life in front of him."
Ms Gingell added: "What's really clear to me is that Callum was a much-loved son, grandson, father, brother and friend."