A VERDICT of accidental death was recorded by deputy coroner Tim Sherwood at an inquest at Stourport on former Tenbury High School pupil John Adam Wilson, 18, who died in a crash on the A443 at Newnham Bridge last August.

His red Vauxhall Astra was in a head-on collision with a white Peugeot 306, driven by Mr Peter Roberts, 58, of Newnham Bridge. Mr Roberts suffered chest, leg and facial injuries.

The inquest was told that the Astra was thought to be travelling at 70mph, 10mph above the speed limit, but police said this was not greatly significant to the crash.

Police said Mr Wilson appeared to have lost control, but it was not possible to say why: perhaps an animal on the road, or by looking at an instrument in the car.

The inquest was told the Astra ended up on top of the Peugeot, a fire started, and the Astra had to be moved to get at Mr Roberts in the Peugeot. There were no passengers in either vehicle. A pathologist said Mr Wilson's death was caused by shock and haemorrhage due to multiple injuries. A blood test showed 154 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 35mg per 100ml of blood.

The inquest was told indications were that Mr Wilson was not wearing a seat belt.

Evidence was given that Mr Roberts had been for a meal in Cleobury with friends, and had consumed two pints of beer.

Summing up, Mr Sherwood said: "We do not really know what caused Mr Wilson to steer towards the wrong side of the road. We can speculate what may have happened. He may have swerved to avoid an animal or he could have had a momentary loss of concentration."

Mr Wilson was the son of Ken and Susan Adams, of Dark Orchard, Tenbury.

Fire Station Commander David James said after the crash: "It was a ferocious collision."