A driver whose truck killed four young Sussex holidaymakers in Australia was under the influence of drugs and was speeding at the time.

Damning new evidence, not put before the criminal court which cleared Scott Pitkin, was revealed at an inquest in Brighton yesterday.

The families of the dead men are calling for a judicial review in Queensland, where the crash happened in 1999.

All were critical of the Australian authorities and one mother said their judicial process had been less than civilised.

Brighton and Hove coroner Veronica Hamilton Deeley cleared the four men of any blame for the crash and recorded an open verdict.

She will be writing to Queensland judiciary with her findings and making recommendations.

Pitkin cannot be tried again for smashing his lorry into the men's car from behind but the families hope a review might change laws and prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Rod Welford, attorney general and justice minister of Queensland, is aware of the accident and the families' concerns.

His spokesman Greg Milne said: "This was a major tragedy. If the families and the Brighton coroner write to the minister he will give serious consideration to anything contained in that correspondence.

"We are about to establish new legislation giving coroners powers to investigate accidents and make recommendations to try to prevent similar tragedies happening again."

David Standing, whose son Peter, 21, was one of the four killed, said there had been a miscarriage of justice.

He said the new evidence came to light at an inquest in Queensland in June this year, after the trial. The inquest came about following pressure from the British Government and Mrs Hamilton Deeley.

Mr Standing, of Amherst Crescent, Hove, said the evidence had been available to prosecutors before the criminal trial but they chose not to use it.

It included:

Pitkin worked 96 hours in the seven days before the crash, 12 hours more than permitted, yet the jury was told fatigue was not an issue
Pitkin had 0.14mg of phentermine (stimulant) and 0.007mg of methylamphetmine (illegal stimulant) in his blood. The jury was told the driver was not under the influence of drugs
The jury was told the truck was travelling at 70km/h, ten more than the limit, yet they were informed 70km/h was the maximum
The driver admitted having faulty lights. This was kept from the jury.

Mr Standing, 52, the chief executive of Hove YMCA, attended the trial at Townsville Supreme Court.

He said: "We read in a local newspaper there that this court had the highest acquittal rate in Australia.

"It is common in Australia for truck drivers to drive long hours and take drugs to stay awake but it is very rare for them to be successfully prosecuted due to the powerful lobby of the trucking industry."

Mr Standing and the families of the other three killed, Timothy Skipp, 23, of Grebe Crescent, Horsham, Martyn Hebblethwaite, 22, of Five Oaks Road, Slinfold, and his brother Benjamin, 26, of Clovers End, Roffey, Horsham, attended yesterday's inquest in Brighton.

Dr Peter Sharp, forensic toxicologist, told the inquest it was "crazy" and "totally irresponsible" for someone to drive a truck having taken drugs and while suffering fatigue.

He said drugs Pitkin used could make someone collapse. It could also induce hallucinations, blurred vision, confusion and paranoia.

Mr Skipp's father, Dr David Skipp, deputy coroner for West Sussex, told the hearing Pitkin's trial was flawed with "incompetent prosecution and incorrect procedures."

He said: "We are concerned for other travellers using their road system. The Queensland authorities showed no concern over the deaths of four foreign nationals."

His wife, Dr Helen Skipp, a magistrate, said: "Pitkin would have been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving had the trial been held here.

"Information was suppressed and the trial was a travesty."

The Hepplethwaites were equally contemptuous. The brothers' father, Paul, said the family regarded Australia as wonderful but his wife Rosemary said: "This was not the standard one would expect from a civilised country."