Diane Helme, 48, of Heysham, died at the scene from head, neck and chest injuries.
Dr Padel also said a specimen taken from Mrs Helme showed she had twice the legal limit of alcohol in her blood.
A urine sample showed she had three times the legal limit.
Simon Howden, 43, his wife Katerina, 31, and their 23-month-old daughter Amalka, all of Lancaster, died following the crash on February 23.
Witnesses at the inquest in Lancaster's Shire Hall described seeing Mrs Helme's black Toyota Celica unsuccessfully attempting to over take a car, losing control and swerving across the road, colliding with the Howden's Skoda car.
Pathologist Dr Padel said Simon Howden had died at the scene of the crash from chest injuries.
His wife Katerina died on March 2 from haemorrhaging and multiple pelvic fractures, and their daughter Amalka died on February 27 from respiratory failure following brain and spinal inquires.
The inquest will continue this afternoon with evidence from a seat belt expert, an accident investigation officer and police officers who attended the scene.