Inquest date set for Oldbury teenager who died in car crash following police chase in Halesowen
An inquest into the death of a teenager who died after a car hit a tree following a police chase in Halesowen will be held in front of a jury in October.
Benjamin Hopton, aged 17 and of Princess Road in Oldbury, was killed when the Honda he was driving failed to stop for police and hit a tree on Coombs Road near the junction with Amber Way at around 3.15am on Friday, January 5 last year. Two 16-year-old passengers were also injured during the crash and taken to hospital but later released.
A second pre-inquest hearing was held at the Black Country Coroner's Court in Oldbury today (August 20), after a previous hearing in May was told that Benjamin was a learner driver and that he had no drugs or alcohol in his system.
Police said at the time that the crash happened moments after the car failed to stop for officers after a short pursuit in the early hours and that it had been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The police watchdog launched an investigation into the crash.
Tributes including flowers, vape pens, candles and cards were left at the crash scene.
The pre-inquest hearing this morning was attended by Benjamin Hopton's family including his mother, grandmother and aunt and three members of the IOPC who will present evidence including police dashcam footage at the next hearing.
The hearing was told there were two Staffordshire Police cars with lone police officers inside and a lead West Midlands Police car with two officers pursuing the Honda at the time of the collision.
One of the officers involved has since joined another force but could still be called to give evidence.
Assistant Coroner Kelly Dixon said there was bodycam and dashcam footage obtained from the IOPC which shows the two Staffordshire Police cars allowing the West Midlands Police car to become the lead vehicle.
The assistant coroner said: "There is also footage taken directly before the crash, some of which will be shown in private as it may be too distressing for the family, though I would encourage them to attend all of the hearing, which could take up to three days."
She said footage before and after the crash must be redacted to protect the identity of the police officer who was a passenger in the West Midlands Police car, known as officer A.
Officer A will give evidence at the inquest, along with the other three officers and paramedics who attended the scene.
The hearing has been set for Monday, October 6 starting at 10am.
