Coroner wants new restrictions on young drivers after four teens killed in crash

A coroner has called on the UK Government to impose legal restrictions on young and newly qualified drivers after four teenagers were killed in a crash in north Wales. The fatal collision happened on the A4085 in Gwynedd at 11.43am on November 19 last year.

Jevon Hirst, 16, Harvey Owen, 17, Wilf Fitchett, 17, and Hugo Morris, 18, were the subject of a major search after the A-level students failed to return home to Shropshire from an overnight camping trip to the Eryri area. Mr Morris was driving a Ford Fiesta when it left the road on a bend and entered a water-filled drainage ditch. For the latest court reports, sign up to our crime newsletter here^[1].

The car was found two days later on November 21 with the bodies of Mr Morris and his three passengers inside. An inquest into the deaths was held on Wednesday and it was determined that the cause of death for all four teenagers was drowning. Senior coroner Kate Robertson, returning her conclusions, said all four occupants of the vehicle would have died “very soon” following the crash with the vehicle “submerged” after heavy rain saw water levels in the ditch rise by “almost a metre”.

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The inquest heard that the crash was “avoidable” and Mrs Robertson recorded a conclusion that all four died due to a road traffic accident. You can read full details from the inquest here^[4]. On Thursday, Mrs Robertson sent a ‘regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths’ to the UK Government’s Department for Transport (DfT).

In the report, she wrote: “During the course of the inquest, the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you.

“Hugo was aged 18 at the time of his death following the collision and had passed his driving test on 23 May 2023. This was 6 months and 16 days prior to the collision. At the time of the collision, he was legally carrying 3 other young persons, his friends.

“Currently, there are no legal restrictions upon the licences of young and/or newly qualified drivers and the current vehicle licensing regime permits the carrying of young persons as passengers in circumstances such as these. It is noted that young drivers are exponentially more likely to be involved in a collision with each similar aged passengers in the car.

“I am concerned that deaths will continue to occur or will occur into the future where younger persons are carried in motor vehicles being driven by newly qualified and/or young drivers.” Mrs Robertson continued: “In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you (DfT) have the power to take such action.”

A copy of the report has been sent to the families of the teenagers killed in the crash, along with the DVLA, other interested persons and the chief coroner. Mrs Robertson said that the DfT is duty bound to respond to the report by December 12 this year.

During Wednesday’s inquest, the families of the four teenagers killed paid tribute to the best friends^[5]. Wilfred Fitchett’s mother said: "He was a well-liked boy at school. He was doing history, psychology, and English at sixth form college. He played guitar at the music room.

"He fractured his wrist playing Scalextric. He could swim confidently. He had a corn snake and a pygmy hedgehog during his childhood. He had a temporary job as a shoe fitter at Clark’s and also in a cafe.

"The boys stayed in Harlech with Jevon’s grandad. He messaged me to say he had enjoyed a full English breakfast. He was such good company with a sense of humour. We were blessed to have him in our lives for 17 years. We are proud to be his family.”

Melanie Hirst, mother of Jevon Hirst, said: “Jevon liked to socialise with his friends. He was a very loving son. He loved the outdoors and going walking. He was very close to his grandfather and loved to visit him in Harlech.”

Dominic Morris said of his son Hugo Morris: “Skiing was his passion. He loved understanding people and people exploring. He had started to take an interest in the wider world and its conflicts. He had a husky and loved The Lord of the Rings.

"Hugo had a thirst for life. He was confident – a giver of warmth, joy, and mirth. He rarely criticised others and loved he could sense people’s emotions and connect with these. He had fallen in love with north Wales.

"His mum helped him pack the car. He was happy and looking forward to the weekend. The world is shattered, bent, and crooked now. We know what he went on to do would have been wonderful. We work, we have friends, and smile and try to channel Hugo in our daily actions. The smile, the humanity - he is impossible to forget.”

Harvey Owen’s family said: “Harvey was charismatic and carefree. He had everything to live for. He was a trendsetter, unique, and an old soul.

"He was wise beyond his years. He was a chef at a local pizzeria. He wanted to open a cafe or take a pizza van to festivals and sell his pizzas. He had such a laidback lovable personality. We are now living in every parents’ worst reality. We have to face a lifetime of grieving the life he should be living. The joy has gone from our lives.”

References

1. ^{^} sign up to our crime newsletter here (www.walesonline.co.uk)
2. ^{^} 'Infamous' landlord has to pay even more in costs after fine appeal bid fails (www.walesonline.co.uk)
3. ^{^} Swansea men deny being part of conspiracy to smuggle £200m of cocaine (www.walesonline.co.uk)
4. ^{^} here (www.walesonline.co.uk)
5. ^{^} paid tribute to the best friends (www.walesonline.co.uk)