Former Kinver student died after accident on country road near Telford

Jack de Bell was travelling along the B4176 in the direction of Sutton Maddock in the early hours of December 3 when his silver Ford Fiesta left the road and struck a large oak tree head on.

Mr John Ellery, senior coroner for Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin heard it was possible that the 18-year-old had fallen asleep at the wheel as he made his way to work and failed to negotiate a left hand curve to the road.

At an inquest, which was held at Shrewsbury's Shirehall, PC Nick Stafford, a collision investigator with West Mercia Police said that there had been no reason for the crash and that there had been no defects with the car.

The B4176 is known as the Rabbit Run because it is a popular route for commuters travelling from the Black Country to Telford.

The road surface was damp but not wet and when PC Stafford examined the car, which had suffered extensive damage, the headlights were dipped but would have shown the tree and curve of the road to the driver.

Slight scuff marks were found on the kerb and tyre marks were on the grass verge but there were no signs of braking or steering.

Mr Ellery was told that Jack, from Kinver, had gone to bed at around 12.30am and had woken to go to work at around 3.45am. The accident happened at around 4.30am.

Jack's parents suggested that he could have fallen asleep at the wheel, which Mr Ellery accepted.

A post mortem was carried out and gave a medical cause of death as multiple injuries consistent with a road traffic collision.

In summing up Mr Ellery said: “In short we do not know how or why the collision occurred. There is no evidence that this was a deliberate act. However, it is certainly possible that he fell asleep at the wheel. For some reason, Jack did not follow the course of the road and the result was a road traffic collision which unfortunately took the life of this industrious young man.”

In conclusion Mr Ellery said he died as a result of a road traffic collision.

The teenager had attended Kinver High School and Soixth Form and was well-known in the village. Oon the evening after his death a large group of family and friends united in his memory at the White Harte pub on the High Street, where he went every weekend.