THE family of a young mother killed when the car she was a passenger in skidded off the road have said they will fight to secure compensation for her eight-year-old daughter.

Christine Harrison, 28, died when the car driven by Daniel Podmore hit a patch of standing water on the A66 Bridge Road, near Darlington, and crashed into trees.

At an inquest held on Tuesday, County Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle recorded a verdict of accidental death, but said the crash could have been avoided if Durham Police had responded differently following an earlier accident at the same spot.

Miss Harrison’s mother, Francine, said listening to evidence about the accident was “extremely difficult” and that she would now work for compensation for her granddaughter Shaney-Leigh, who she cares for.

She also urged people to learn from her daughter’s death and to drive with care on wet roads.

The inquest heard Miss Harrison was a rear-seat passenger in a Volkswagen Golf driven by Daniel Podmore, who was uninsured and unlicenced, when the car hit standing water at about 5.30am on March 9.

Podmore, 27, escaped prosecution for Miss Harrison’s death but appeared before magistrates where he was disqualified from driving and fined.

Mr Tweddle noted that Miss Harrison had not been wearing a seatbelt at the time she died, but said the crash would not have happened if the scene of an earlier accident, where a man escaped injury when his car left the road at the same point, had been properly managed by police.

However, Mrs Harrison again raised concerns that Daniel Podmore had not faced criminal charges in relation to her daughter’s death, after hearing other drivers had safely negotiated the same stretch of road before the fatal crash.

She added: “I believed that a criminal trial would have been appropriate to explore what happened and I am very grateful to the coroner for exploring the circumstances of Christine’s death.

“I hope other drivers take note of this case and ensure that in future they take care on wet roads.”

“Our priority now is ensuring that we make sure Shaney-Leigh’s future is secure.

“She has been incredibly brave since the loss of her mother and although nothing can bring Christine back, it is my duty to try and ensure my granddaughter receives as much help as possible throughout her life.”

The family is working with solicitors Irwin Mitchell to determine whether a compensation claim can be made against the insurers of the vehicle Podmore was driving, even though he was not personally insured.