Inquest opens following death of young crash victims near Dudley
The inquest has opened into a young motorist and three passengers killed in a crash near Dudley.
Joshua Parkes, Lucy Tibbetts and Isabelle Floyd were pronounced dead at the scene after a Skoda Fabia crashed into a tree in Bromley Lane in Kingswinford at about 8.50pm on October 13.
Front seat passenger Nathan Cartwright died from his injuries at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham four days later, while a 16-year-old girl remains in hospital.
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At the hearing, Black Country Area Coroner Mrs Joanne Lees said: "The yellow Fabia car had left the carriageway and collided with the tree in Bromley Lane, Kingswinford, in Dudley.
"There were five occupants inside."
Mrs Lees said driver Mr Parkes, aged 21, of Gooch Close, Stourbridge; rear seat passengers Ms Floyd, 16, of Silverwood, Wombourne; and Ms Tibbetts, of Swan Street, Pensnett, Dudley, were all confirmed dead at the scene following the collision.
Mrs Lees told the hearing in Oldbury, attended via audio link by relatives of the crash victims: "I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere condolences to the families of these four young people."
She said the death of Mr Cartwright, 18, of Eaton Lane, Kingswinsford, was reported to her by Birmingham hospital on October 17.
"Mr Cartwright was found in the front passenger seat and taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital with serious life threatening injuries, where he passed away."
She said the matter was subject to a pending police investigation and adjourned the case until January 14.
Another 16-year-old girl remains in hospital.
Wellwishers have left dozens of floral tributes and messages at the collision scene in Bromley Lane.
More than £11,000 has so far been raised for the families of the four victims, whose families have paid moving tributes to them.
A fundraiser has also been set up for the surviving passenger.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an investigation into the level of involvement of West Midlands Police after the force said the Skoda had come to the attention of officers before the crash happened.
West Midlands Police, which is conducting its own investigation, said the police car wasn't in the "immediate vicinity" of the Skoda at the point of collision.
