Speed caused crash deaths, inquest hears

A YOUNG driver was speeding and had been drinking alcohol when he lost control of his high-powered car killing himself, his sister and girlfriend an inquest has heard.

Luke Morris, 22, died along with his girlfriend, 24-year-old Elizabeth Stanley and sister Rebecca Townsend, 26 when his Nissan 200 SX left the road and hit a tree at Avonbank on the B4084 in Pershore.

A fourth passenger in the car, Mrs Townsend's husband Craig, was critically injured but survived.

No-one witnessed the crash on June 9 about 12.35am but Christopher Finch, who was drinking with friends at Pershore Working Mens Club, said he had seen the group leave the New Inn pub in the High Street shortly before the accident.

"They were being very loud and giggly and seemed in high spirits," he said in a statement read by Worcestershire Coroner Geraint Williams.

Mr Finch said the four then got into the car, which he noticed had a turbo charger, and pulled away slowly down the High Street until they got past the Miller Arms pub.

"The driver accelerated very hard and there was a loud swoosh and scream of the engine," he added.

"It accelerated violently and aggressively and my goodness made one hell of a noise as it left Pershore.

"I said to my friend it was now turboed and he was really going for it.

"Shortly after I saw the emergency services drive past in the same direction."

PC Martin Dunham, a collision investigator for West Mercia Police, attended the scene shortly after the crash took place.

He said his investigation work had indicated the car was travelling well in excess of the 50mph speed limit when it took the bend and could have been travelling up to 82mph.

Mr Morris' post-mortem found he had 47mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood which was under the 80mg limit but the coroner Geraint Williams said it could have played a part in Mr Morris losing control of the vehicle.

"Even a single drink can have an impact on ability to control a vehicle and it is to be deplored," he said.

"This was a tragic ending for the occupants of the car and their families.

"I conclude that high speed and alcohol caused these deaths."

Mr Williams recorded a verdict of accidental death for all three crash victims.

Buy photos» Rebecca Townsend.

Buy photos» Elizabeth Stanley.

Buy photos» Luke Morris.

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