Three teens tragically died after a car crash near Penkridge, Staffordshire. The driver lost control, hitting a tree on their way home from a party.
The crash happened around 11:47 pm last May. Dafydd had gotten his license not long before, having passed his driving test in late November 2023.
Dafydd recorded himself driving to pick up his friends and worried he was speeding. He thought he drove 90 mph in a 70 mph zone. He drove from Wales to Penkridge to get Morgan; Sophie and Brooke joined for a ride.
Sophie and Brooke did not wear seatbelts. Morgan used only the shoulder strap, sitting over the lap belt. Sophie filmed herself in the back middle seat.
The inquest revealed Dafydd was unfamiliar with the road. He lost control going over a bridge, after which the car went onto a grass area. It crossed the road and hit a tree. Dafydd and Morgan died at the scene; Sophie died in the hospital later.
Brooke survived but regrets not wearing a seatbelt and said it was too dark to find it. She felt a “rollercoaster feeling” before blacking out.
Brooke thought Dafydd drove too fast and asked him to slow down. Her phone showed a maximum speed of 85 mph before the crash. The court could not confirm this speed.
Dafydd’s mother said she felt safe with his driving. His car had insurance and passed inspection, and police said there were no car problems.
Dafydd had no drugs or alcohol in his system and was not using his phone. The road had three serious crashes since 2017. Another fatal crash happened in January 2024.
The coroner said road markings will improve, though no changes have happened yet. She will issue a report which urges highway improvements.
The coroner ruled the deaths as a traffic collision result, stating that Dafydd lost control and hit a tree. Further, a passenger not wearing a seatbelt hit his seat.
The passenger’s impact worsened Dafydd’s injuries. The coroner is very concerned about the road and wants changes made soon to prevent deaths.
Brooke shared a statement about her friends, stating that she misses them greatly. Sophie was kind and lived life fully and inspires Brooke to get better. Morgan was funny and sweet, Brooke said, adding that Dafydd had a kind heart.
