What a waste - Drugs to blame for triple death crash (From Western Telegraph)

What a waste - Drugs to blame for triple death crash

A teenage driver, who killed himself and two young passengers when he crashed his car, had taken cannabis and amphetamine shortly before the accident, an inquest was told on Monday.

Manslaughter verdicts were recorded on the two 14-year-old passengers killed in the horrendous head-on smash near Tavernspite, in November.

The inquest at Milford Haven heard that the driver, Jason Edward Hartt, aged 18, of Blaen Ffynnonau Farm, Ciffyg, Whitland, died at the scene.

His passengers - girlfriend Tammy Anne Marie Williams, of 1, Gladstone Terrace, Trevaughan, Whitland, and Jonathan Thomas Owen, of Gwersyll, High Street, Bancyfelin - suffered fatal injuries.

Jonathan died in Glangwili Hospital shortly afterwards and Tammy in Intensive Care at The Heath, in Cardiff, the following day.

"I am satisfied that an unlawful and dangerous act was carried out which caused the death of Tammy and Jonathan," said Pembrokeshire Coroner Michael Howells, who recorded a 'misadventure' verdict on Jason.

The coroner said Jason was 'under the influence' of drugs at the time of the accident. Jason had waved to his father minutes before the crash and Mr Hartt had the traumatic experience of giving the kiss of life to his son as he was trapped in the car with 'unsurvivable' multiple injuries. The previous day Jason, who had passed his test in July, had been cautioned by police for possession of cannabis leaf.

Forensic experts testified that Jason's judgment would have been impaired by the drugs - cannabis and amphetamine - in his system.

A police accident investigator said evidence at the scene indicated that Jason's VW Golf had rounded a bend near South Treffgarne Farm, Tavernspite, at between 60 and 80mph on the wrong side of the road, colliding with an oncoming Land Rover Discovery.

Neither vehicle was defective. Mrs Paula Kemp, of Caerphilly, driver of the Discovery, which was knocked back 2.5 metres by the impact, and her husband Paul, were both badly injured.