Mechanic died in Oswestry Audi crash after car burst into flames

Jodie Michael Jordan, 23, had been driving a silver Audi when it left the road at Henlle Lane before the junction to Gobowen Road near Oswestry, hitting a tree and bursting into flames.

The young motor mechanic had been given the Audi 90, which had been sitting unused for seven years, just two days earlier in return for work he did on a Land Rover.

At an inquest held at the Shirehall, Shrewsbury, assistant coroner for Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin, Heath Westerman, recorded a verdict that Mr Jordan, of Penycae, Wrexham, died as a result of a road traffic accident.

After hearing calls from Mr Jordan’s parents for warning signs of a bend and junction he said he would consider making a call for changes to road markings to prevent further tragedies.

His father, David Jordan said: “There needs to be signs on the road itself to warn people of that bend and the junction. We don’t want to see any other lives lost.”

The inquest heard from pathologist, Dr Nicholas Green, who said his death was due to exposure to fire.

He told Mr Jordan’s family that it was likely that he had been unconscious before the fire started.

Police expert, Constable Neil Jenkins, said the car had been travelling at just over 52 miles an hour when it failed to negotiate a sharp right hand bend just before the junction with the Gobowen Road.

He said the driver had tried to slow down but said the car’s anti-lock braking system had not worked, the wheels locked and the car crashed.

In a police interview, Mr Jordan’s passenger said that his friend picked him up from outside a supermarket and then they went for fuel.

They had been going to a friend’s “man cave” close to where the crash happened, the passenger said.

“We went over a hump-back bridge and all four wheels left the road,” the passenger told police.

“I asked him to slow down. The road was like a chicane, he was going flat out all the way. I said slow down, then we hit the tree,” he said.

He said the passenger managed to release his seatbelt but said Mr Jordan’s seatbelt was stuck.

“Jodie was slumped over the steering wheel, he wasn’t moving or making any noise. I tapped his arm and said ‘come on, come on’ but he didn’t move. I tried his seat belt but it was locked, I couldn’t get it off.”

Mr Jones said he saw the smoke then flames and knew he had to get out.

“I was in a house fire and when I see flames I can’t cope.”

The passenger left the scene. He said he tried to flag people down but no-one stopped.

People driving and living in the area said that they heard an explosion or saw flames at about 4.40am.

The assistant coroner was told that Mr Jordan was given the silver Audi 90 on May 4 in return was work he did on a Land Rover. It had not been used for about seven years.

“The car should not have been on the road, it had no MOT and was probably not roadworthy,” he said.

Following the inquest Mr Jordan’s father, David and his mother Sam, said they wanted to see warning signs on the bend and a steel barrier put in place to stop other accidents.

They said their son had been a ‘good kind lad’ who lived life to the full. He had a heart of gold, he would help anybody,” his mother said.