Three teens killed in Shifnal crash died due to the 'naïve actions of a young, inexperienced and newly qualified driver'

Mr Evans died instantly in the crash, having been ejected from the car, but the other boys succumbed to their injuries in hospital following the crash.

A fourth passenger in the car, George Taylor, 17, survived the crash, but suffered life-changing injuries.

Today (July 7), the court heard that the three dead boys were all wearing their seatbelts.

Resuming the inquests into the deaths of the three teenagers, Assistant Coroner Heath Westerman at the Coroner's Court for Shropshire, sitting at the Guildhall in Shrewsbury, heard how Jenson Bridges had been driving his 1.4l Audi A1 hatchback.

Mr Westerman told the packed coroner's court that Jenson's Audi, a hatchback with 123bhp, was MOT'd, taxed, had valid insurance and was found to have had “no mechanical defects” at the time of the crash. The driver was also clear of drugs and alcohol at the time of the incident.

Reading statements from investigating officers, Mr Westerman told the court that Jenson had passed his driving test just the day before the crash.

The court heard how the four, with Jenson driving, Simon Evans in the front seat and George Taylor and Jacob Holman in the back, met at the Esso garage in Codsall with eight other friends, who were in a Vauxhall Corsa and VW Golf.

The 12 teenagers, who were friends and acquaintances, met just before 11pm and decided to go for a drive, with Jenson leading in his Audi A1.

The court heard how the three cars travelled towards Shifnal, when the other two cars lost sight of the Audi. A call was made and the Audi waited at a junction for the other two vehicles just as they approached Shifnal.

Friends of the three dead boys had given statements to say that Jenson had turned off the traction control in his car, so he could “wheelspin” away, once the other cars caught up.

While the occupants of the other cars did not see the accident, they told investigating officers they thought Jenson was exceeding the national speed limit of 60mph and travelling at around “90-95mph” as he sped off.

Mr Westerman said Offoxey Road was described by forensic officers as in a “state of disrepair” with numerous potholes and bumps.

Investigating officers said the speedometer was stuck at 37mph, but investigators disregarded that, and suggested the incident was “not a low speed” crash.

The court was told that the car suffered “catastrophic” damage following the crash, with the near side front wheel detaching from the vehicle and the front of the car deformed.

Investigators believe the car had hit a bump in the road, causing the vehicle to hit the nearside verge, which threw the car into a hedgerow and finally into a tree.

After the crash the two cars following the Audi stopped, and the eight occupants did what they could to offer life-saving help to their four friends.

But Jenson and Jacob both died in hospital on the following days from “non-survivable head injuries”.

Mr Evans died at the scene from “multiple traumatic injuries”.

In his findings, Mr Westerman concluded that all three boys died from a road traffic collision.

He said: “On the evidence I have heard, I am satisfied Bridges was not racing another vehicle and had not met up with friends and acquaintances with an intention to race.

“He was a newly qualified driver who was excited to be on the road but lacked the experience to know how a car handles with three passengers in it at speed over a bumpy road.

“I find that at a junction before the accident, he turned off the traction control. While it is not possible to calculate how fast the car was travelling, I find he was driving at excessive speeds.

“Having driven at excessive speeds down Offoxey Road with three passengers, he was unable to control the car as it negotiated a ditch. It then clipped the off-side grass verge, collided with hedgerow and then a tree.

“The damage was devastating. I find the condition of the car did not contribute. I find the condition of the road did not contribute.”

He added: “The collision was caused by the naïve actions of a young, inexperienced and newly qualified driver.”