Four teens drowned after car overturned in ‘avoidable’ horror crash on way to camping trip, inquest told
FOUR teens drowned after their car overturned in an “avoidable” horror crash on their way to a camping trip, an inquest heard.
Hugo Morris, 18, Harvey Owen, 17, Wilf Fitchett, 17, and Jevon Hirst, 16, were all killed in the tragedy last November.
The pals were on their way to an overnight trip to Snowdonia when a Ford Fiesta driven by Hugo left the road.
Tragically, the boys were left in the partially submerged, overturned car for two days before they were found dead.
An inquest in Caernarfon heard that Hugo had passed his test just six months before driving the group on the winding road.
He had driven the car “in excess” of the speed needed to get around a bend safely, it was said.
Crash investigator Ian Thompson said he believed the car took the corner at around 38mph rather than the recommended 26mph.
He also said there were “no catastrophic mechanical failures” with the car but the rear tyres were only half the required inflated pressure for carrying four people.
Mr Thompson explained although it had been raining heavily with leaves covering the road, he did not consider weather as a factor in the horror.
The investigator told the court that in his view, the crash “was avoidable”.
He also said the Hugo’s driving was “significant” in the circumstances of the accident.
The A-Level students had left their homes in Shrewsbury on November 19 for the camping trip.
Witnesses saw the pals “laughing and joking” as they bought supplies for the camping expedition from a shop in Harlech.
They were then captured on CCTV in the Ford on their way to the mountains.
A Snapchat video posted by Wilf before the crash showed all boys were wearing seatbelts with Hugo driving, Jevon in the front seat, Harvey behind Hugo and Wilf behind Jevon.
A huge search was launched for the boys after they failed to return home.
The crashed car, which couldn’t be seen from the road, was eventually spotted by a passing recycling truck two days later.
Post-mortem exams revealed none of the boys had any internal or external injuries and had died as a result of drowning.
Paying tribute, Hugo’s family said he was “a giver of warmth, joy and mirth”.
They added: ‘He was happy and looking forward to the weekend. The world is shattered, bent and crooked now.”
Melanie Hirst, Jevon’s mum, said: “Jevon liked to socialise with his friends. He was a very loving son.
“He loved the outdoors and going walking. He was very close to his grandfather and loved to visit him in Harlech.”
Harvey’s family the teen was “charismatic and carefree” and had “everything to live for”.
While Wilf’s mum Heather Sanderson told the hearing: “The boys stayed in Harlech with Jevon’s grandad. He messaged me to say he had enjoyed a full English breakfast.
“He was such good company with a sense of humour. We were blessed to have him in our lives for 17 years. We are proud to be his family.”
The inquest continues.