Inquest into deaths of three teenagers killed in Penkridge crash to take place today

Sophie Bates, aged 17 and from Stafford; Dafydd Hûw Craven-Jones, aged 18 and of Tanyfron, Wrexham; and Morgan Jones, aged 17 and of Coedpoeth, Wrexham, died after the crash in Cannock Road on May 25 last year.

It happened when a Ford Ka collided with a tree just before midnight, with Mr Craven-Jones and Mr Jones pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene.

Miss Bates, who was a rear seat passenger in the car, was taken to hospital with injuries sustained in the crash and died three days later.

An inquest into the teenagers' deaths was opened last summer then adjourned by Staffordshire coroners; the hearing is now due to take place this morning at the County Buildings in Stafford.

Miss Bates was a student at Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) where she studied Level 2 Beauty Therapy.

Craig Hodgson, principal and chief executive of NSCG described her as "bright" with a "positive attitude and great sense of humour".

Miss Bates' family said in an earlier tribute that she was "kind-hearted" and "thoughtful".

Tributes were also paid to Mr Craven-Jones who was described by his family as a "beautiful soul", while Mr Jones was said to be a "kind and loving young man".

Another teenager, Brooke Valley, aged 17 and from Newport, was also a passenger in the car at the time of the crash but thankfully survived her injuries.

She described her friends as "amazing people" and said she was "so upset" to have lost them from her life.

A sea of flowers, cards, teddy bears and a rugby ball were left at the foot of a tree on Cannock Road in the days following the crash.

A Welsh flag with touching messages in tribute to the teenagers also adorned the tree.