Tragic Samantha was not wearing seatbelt in crash

Samantha Jennings was sitting in the front passenger seat of the black Vauxhall Astra when it came off the A449 at Cookley on December 8.

Worcestershire Coroners Court yesterday heard that neither the 26-year-old, of Aldridge Close, Stourbridge, or two men travelling in the car had been wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

The inquest was told Miss Jennings' boyfriend Thomas Whitehouse had been driving the car and their friend Leander Mock was sitting in the back seat.

Mr Williams read a report from West Mercia Police traffic officer Graham Powell who had carried out investigations following the crash. "Indications are there was a loss of control immediately after a right-hand bend.

"It appears the tyres impacted the kerb before colliding first with a sandstone wall and then a tree. All three occupants were ejected from the vehicle.

"It is his view the cause lies solely with the driver either misjudging speed and position along this section of road or failing to maintain a level of concentration."

Mr Williams said no alcohol had been found in Mr Whitehouse's blood but cannabis was detected. However he said it was not known when this had been taken.

Mr Williams said the officer could not say for certain what had happened.

"There is a possibility something else could have happened, such as an animal in the road, we just do not know," he said.

Mr Williams said tests on the vehicle had revealed no mechanical faults but had confirmed none of the occupants had been wearing seatbelts. The inquest heard from Mr Mock who said he had called Mr Whitehouse and Miss Jennings earlier in the day and asked them to meet him in Stourbridge.

He was celebrating his birthday and after visiting some pubs he had asked to take a drive with them so they could talk and catch up. "I only saw Tom have one drink all evening and we were going at a reasonable speed not going above limit."

Mr Mock said he had felt "a bump" before the car started to skid and it felt like the rear tyres had left the road. He said he had blacked out and woken up in the field where he had tried to help his friends.

A statement from Mr Whitehouse said he could not remember the events of the crash or the evening after he and Miss Jennings returned from Birmingham.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Williams said: "We consider what happened was a case of driver error with catastrophic, fatal and tragic results. Nevertheless it was an accident and that is what I will record."