FOUR young pals were killed after the driver reached speeds up to 96mph and ploughed into a tree, an inquest heard.

       Joshua Parkes, 21, lost control while driving more than three times the speed limit in Kingswinford, West Midlands.

       6

       Lucy Tibbetts was described as 'an inspiration' by her family after she was killed in the horror smash Credit: Facebook 6

       The teens were killed after their car hit a tree in Kingswinford Credit: SNAPPERSK

       Mr Parkes, a construction shed builder, suffered fatal injuries moments after answering his phone to a pal.

       The coroner recorded his death as a result of misadventure.

       Three of his passengers, Nathan Cartwright, 18, Lucy Tibbetts and Isabelle Floyd, both 16, all either died at the scene or later in hospital.

       A fourth passenger, a girl, was left with serious injuries but survived.

       The Black Country Coroner's Court heard on Thursday that Mr Parkes, a provisional licence holder, was driving a yellow Skoda Fabia on October 13 2020.

       He sped along Bromley Lane at more than three times the 30mph limit before losing control, ploughing through a lamppost and hitting a tree.

       The speed of the crash, after "heavy braking", was later calculated at 43mph.

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       Area coroner Joanne Lees was told that Mr Cartwright had been the only person wearing a seatbelt in the car, which was heading to Kinver, Staffordshire.

       But, an expert crash investigator said that seatbelts would "not necessarily ensure survivability".

       West Midlands Police senior collision investigator Andrew Salt added: "The primary cause of the collision was the speed at which (Joshua) Parkes deliberately chose to drive along Bromley Lane."

       WRONG SIDE OF ROAD

       Mr Salt explained that roadside CCTV and dashcam revealed at times the Skoda was being "entirely voluntarily" driven on the wrong side of the road.

       At one point Mr Parkes narrowly avoided a crash with an oncoming vehicle, while trying to take "the racing line" of the bend, on the wrong side of the road.

       Mr Salt said the oncoming car meant Parkes had to steer back onto the correct side of the road "and it was that action [which] precipitated the loss of control [of the car]".

       He said: "The Skoda could not have got around the bend at the speed it was travelling at, using the correct side of the carriageway."

       At least two of the car's tyres were later found to be under-inflated, including the front near-side which was up to only 17PSI - possibly from an undetected slow puncture - as well as the rear off-side.

       Mr Salt said he believed that the low tyre pressures were "a contributory factor" to the crash.

       The Skoda hit a kerb, clipping a bus stop post which ripped off the rear bumper, "felling" a reinforced concrete lamppost before a "substantial" impact with the tree.

       MISADVENTURE

       The coroner concluded Mr Parkes died of misadventure - "a deliberate act which goes wrong" - while his the passengers' died as a result of a road traffic collision.

       Ms Lees said: "I am quite satisfied the actions of the Skoda driver were entirely of his own choice and one can only imagine how terrifying it must have been for the occupants at the point the Skoda reached speeds of 96mph and was travelling on the wrong side of the road.

       "I am entirely satisfied the cause of the collision were the actions of Mr Parkes, as the driver of the Skoda, and that the speed and manner in which he drove the Skoda were significant factors in the collision."

       The inquest was told that cops had spotted the Skoda moments before the deadly smash.

       Cops on patrol had found that Mr Parkes did not appear to be insured, however they lost sight of the vehicle almost immediately.

       An investigation by the police watchdog later concluded there was no evidence they "caused or contributed" to the fatal crash.

       The coroner added: "Whatever precipitated the actions of the driver of the Skoda, the Skoda was not being actively pursued or followed directly by the marked police car."

       One can only imagine how terrifying it must have been for the occupants at the point the Skoda reached speeds of 96mph and was travelling on the wrong side of the road.

       Area coroner Joanne Lees

       In tributes read to court, powder-coating worker Mr Cartwright was described as "sensitive and kind-hearted".

       He was also said to have been known for his "cheeky smile and an infectious laugh" before his life was "cruelly snatched away".

       Ms Tibbetts, one of five siblings and originally from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, had overcome "relentless bullying" to take up an apprenticeship.

       The teen "had found a happy place to be in life" before the crash.

       Miss Floyd, known as Izzie, had "the most infectious personality" and as a keen dancer had left behind "some amazing TikTok videos to cherish forever" before she was "so cruelly taken".

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       Joshua Parkes was driving the Skoda when it slammed into a tree Credit: Facebook 6

       Nathan Cartwright's mum paid tribute to her 'gorgeous' son after he died Credit: Facebook 6

       Floral tributes were left for the youngsters at the scene Credit: PA:Press Association 6

       Police spoke to people at the crash scene in Kingswinford Credit: SWNS:South West News Service