Carnage of Wesley Marcus' fatal crash is revealed

Carnage at the scene of a car crash on a Wolverhampton street in which the 16-year-old driver died was so devastating it resembled a motorway collision, an inquest heard.

The engine of the stolen Ford Ka, being driven by Wesley Marcus, was ripped out by the impact while a front wheel and suspension unit was found more than 65ft away in another street.

The victim's body was found in Park Lane, Fallings Park, beside the car, which had been taken earlier from a driveway in nearby Burncross Way following a burglary.

An inquest heard that he died of head injuries caused by impact with the road after he was hurled through an open door or window when the car hit a tree.

A resident, who was woken by the sound of the smash at 5.10am on March 16, went to the aid of front-seat passenger Joshua Owen who was found lying on the opposite side of the road but he ran off when sirens were heard, the inquest heard.

The 18-year-old, of Old Fallings Crescent, appeared in court in July and was banned from driving for three years, placed under a six-month curfew and ordered to complete 200 hours' unpaid work after admitting burglary, theft and aggravated vehicle taking.

Giving evidence yesterday, he recalled a back wheel "popping" as they hit a speed hump. The next he remembered was having to crawl out of the car window and turning up at Wesley's mother's home in Fourth Avenue, Low Hill. Tests showed neither youth was wearing a seat belt.

Pc Lee Ellitts told the inquest the speedometer 'froze' at 48mph the moment the engine cut out but was almost certainly slowing down at that point after skidding.

He said parts of the tree had intruded more than two feet into the bodywork. The engine had cleared a 6ft fence and landed in a garden in Hyam Avenue. "The spread of the debris was immense — something you rarely see on an urban road, more like an accident on the motorway, indicative of quite a high speed," he said.

Tests showed there was no alcohol or drugs, except for a trace of painkillers, in the victim's body.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Wolverhampton coroner Richard Allen said the teenager lost control of the car and hit a tree, most likely after hitting a speed hump too fast.