A MAN has told how a crash which killed a student happened so fast it was like something on TV.

John Cartwright’s car was hit when Adam West, of Hopton Street, St John’s, Worcester, seemingly lost control of his Renault Clio at about 10.30am on Saturday, February 26.

Mr West – a 19-year-old student at Worcester College of Technology – was killed in the accident on the A44 near Knightwick. Mr Cartwright told an inquest on Mr West’s death that it all happened so fast he did not have time to think or react.

“It happened so quickly it was over and done with in seconds,” he said.

“I looked in my rear view mirror and saw a car coming towards me sideways on.

"It was something like you would see on telly. It happened so fast.”

Mr Cartwright’s black Volkswagen was hit by the silver Clio, which had been travelling away from Worcester when it lost control on the bend and crossed to the other side of the road.

Lynette Harding, who was behind Mr Cartwright, said in a statement read out in court that she had seen Mr West apparently lose control of his vehicle, noting it wavered as it came around the corner before trying to straighten up and then going “side on” into Mr Cartwright’s car.

She said: “I shouted ‘watch out’ and then heard a loud impact.”

Mrs Harding, who was travelling with her husband, got out of her car to see if she could help. She told Mr Cartwright – who had been on the way to visit his father in hospital – to stay in his car before going to see Mr West.

“I reached my hand through the driver’s window and touched the driver’s shoulder,” Mrs Harding said.

“I said, ‘Just stay still, mate’. I heard him groan a couple of times but no other response.”

Mr West was airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he later died of his injuries, while Mr Cartwright was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital to be treated for a cracked sternum.

A post mortem revealed there to be no medical reason for the accident, nor any alcohol or drugs in Mr West’s system.

Investigators into the accident said there was no evidence that Mr West had been speeding, which witnesses corroborated.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded.

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