Brothers high on cannabis died in massive fireball after their car crashed following 100mph police chase Robert Crooks, 33, and Scott Best, 27, were driving at 'crazy speeds' Both men had not passed a driving test and were high on cannabis at time Crash devastated road, demolished garden walls and set fire to other cars Scott Best one of two brothers who accidentally burnt themselves to death in a crash just moments after they shook off a police patrol at up to 100mph Two brothers were killed in a huge fireball that destroyed several other vehicles and smashed the windows of nearby houses. Moments before the fatal collision Robert Crooks, 33, and Scott Best, 27, had evaded police in the stolen Audi S4. They were both high on cannabis when the car was witnessed 'flying through the air' after they lost control of the car while negotiating bollards, an inquest heard. It is believed they were travelling at up to 100mph at the time of the collision in February this year. Earlier in the day they went to the home of Carl Robinson where they smashed a window and grabbed the keys that belonged to his friend from a window ledge. Mr Robinson confronted them and they demanded cash. 'A voice shouted "give us your money" four times,' he told the inquest in a statement. 'I didn't respond I stayed back. The car keys were taken and I saw the hazard lights flash. The same voice said "pass me the gun" and we heard the car drive off at speed. They drove the Audi past a police car which attempted to pursue them, but lost them when they turned down a side road. Terrence Poole, who saw the collision, said: 'The Audi flew past and went straight into a parked car and toppled over. Nothing could be done. It was very high speed like he was trying to get away from someone or something. Pedestrian John Kane described hearing the revving of the engine before the crash. 'I heard the skid, I still hadn't seen the car,' he said. Very soon afterwards I heard the bang as it hit the car on the left hand side of the road. I saw the red car in the air. The first thing everyone thought was to get towards the car. It was only a few seconds before it exploded. Robert Crooks, 33, and Scott Best, 27, left a suburban street in Salford, Greater Manchester in carnage after their stolen high powered Audi crashed and exploded as they attempted to snake around a set of traffic calming road bollards at 'crazy speeds' Witness Philip Mansfield said: 'It was overtaking me at a crazy speed. It was very fast. It was frightening at what speed he was going past. It was going in and out switching lanes. It was being driven extremely dangerously. PC Mark Burrows went to the car with a fire extinguisher but could do little to help the brothers - neither of which had a driving license. He said: 'As I moved closer to the vehicle, unexpectedly it banged. I just couldn't get anywhere near, it was futile.' The scene of the crash on Leigh Road in Boothstown. Inquiries revealed both men had not passed a driving test and were high on cannabis at the time An inquest was told the tragedy in Boothstown, Greater Manchester occurred in February just moments after the masked pair had been involved in a burglary at a house in nearby Farnworth Despite the scene of devastation left by the brothers as the stolen car careered out of control, no one else was hurt in the crash Investigations concluded that it was likely that Best was driving the vehicle and, while under the drink drive limit, he had 'reasonably high levels' of cannabis in his body. Recording a narrative verdict Coroner Alan Walsh said: 'The driving was at great excess and the speed could have been 80-100 mph and other vehicles had to move out of the way. I pay enormous credit to the bravery and credit the pedestrians and members of the public who went to do whatever they could, but was futile because of the extent of fire. Firefighters said the blaze was likely to have started after the collision led to the fuel lines and petrol tank being damaged, causing a rapid ignition accounting for the fireball. It was not known whether either of the brothers were wearing seatbelts The pair demolished gardens and crashed into other parked cars as they were trying to make their escape The officers acted in textbook fashion. He added: 'There has to be lessons learnt. The taking of a motor vehicle should never have happened. It was taken and driven at high speeds by a driver who had not passed a driving test which is even more dangerous. The dangers are exhibited no greater than in this case of Robert Crooks and Scott Best who have lost their lives. Witnesses would have been traumatised. In a statement the brothers" mother Susan Best said she was glad no one else was injured in the crash.