A TEENAGE motorist killed when his car span off the road and hit two trees probably lost control on a bend, an inquest heard today. (Thursday, August 14)

Jed Johnson died after crashing his Vauxhall Corsa on the A688 near Oakley service station, on the outskirts of West Auckland, County Durham, on Friday, February 28.

The 17-year-old from Toft Hill, near Bishop Auckland, was taking girlfriend, Amy Wood, from Barnard Castle, out for a meal just before 7pm on the night of the crash.

They had almost reached The March Hare restaurant, at Tindale Crescent, when he lost control of the car and it span anti-clockwise into a field and hit two trees.

Miss Wood told the Crook inquest that she only had a vague recollection of the night but could recall feeling the car bounce shortly before it crashed.

She said she had had no concerns about the vehicle or Mr Johnson’s driving beforehand.

Collision investigator, PC Robin Turner, said there was no suggestion of any other vehicles involved, anything running across Mr Johnson’s path or any defects with the car or road.

A splatter of oil was found on the road close to the scene but police were unable to determine where it came from and though it may have been a factor in the accident it would not have caused it.

PC Turner said, based on evidence from the scene and his experience, it was most likely that Mr Johnson began losing control of his car on a right hand bend further up the road which has a 60mph speed limit.

“You can drive around that bend if you take the correct line at an appropriate speed, with inexperience and inaccurate steering the likelihood is it caused a series of events that caused him to lose control," he added.

“It would take quite a bit of skill to regain control.”

The inquest heard that although Mr Johnson had only passed his driving test three days earlier, he did have experience on the roads.

For around two years he rode a scooter, then a 125cc motorbike and had driven a variety of cars and vans through his work as a trainee auto electrician and with his stepfather.

His mother Angelina Johnson said: “He had over 200 lessons with three instructors, he had so much experience. He knew that road like the back of his hand.”

Coroner Andrew Tweddle ruled Mr Johnson’s death was accidental. He added: “Why did it happen? We will never know exactly.”