Oldbury teenager died as a result of road traffic collision in Halesowen - Inquest rules after evidence heard of police pursuit
The jury in the inquest into the death of Oldbury teenager Benjamin Hopton has returned a finding that he died as the result of a road traffic collision
The full inquest into the death of the 17-year-old who was killed when the Honda Civic he was driving failed to stop for police and crashed on Coombs Road near the junction with Amber Way in Halesowen in January last year concluded on Thursday lunchtime.
The ten-person- jury at Black Country Coroners Court in Oldbury took just over two hours to come back with their findings.
They had sat through three days of evidence and witness statements from police officers who were involved in the pursuit of the car in the early hours of January 5 2024.
The inquest heard evidence from West Midlands Police officers and one from Staffordshire who said they believed the occupants of the Honda may have been involved in the theft of a Mercedes car which was recovered close to where the pursuit started, in Britannia Road, Rowley Regis.
Police say they attempted to stop the Honda after they saw it stutter and stall at a junction but it accelerated and a short chase started, ending when the car - driven by learner driver Benjamin Hopton - left the road at Coombs Road, Halesowen and collided with a tree.
Evidence was also given from a West Midlands Police tactical driver instructor who estimated the Honda was being driven at speeds of up to 68 mph in an area where the speed limit was 30.
During legal arguments yesterday (Wednesday) Christian Weaver, legal council for the family raised he question of whether Article Two of the Human Rights Act was breached which requires the state to protect the lives of everyone within its jurisdiction and take reasonable steps to prevent accidental deaths.
He questioned whether police officers should have known there was a danger to life when they decided to pursue the Honda and whether the Staffordshire Police officer told his West Midlands colleagues who he handed over to that it was his belief the driver may have been intoxicated or not in control.
But assistant coroner Kelly Dixon rejected the argument, saying the pursuit of the Honda was short in duration and at the time it took place - 3am - there was little risk to pedestrians or other road users, with traffic minimal.
She said: "It was the fact the car failed to stop and then sped off which prompted the pursuit and I am happy it was not unlawful and that the police officers, all of whom were trained and experienced took reasonable steps to ensure the risk to Benjamin's life was minimal."
At the conclusion of the inquest, Benjamin's family were emotional as a video of his life was played.
