FOUR teenagers drowned after their car overturned in an “avoidable” horrific accident on a camping trip, an inquest heard.
Hugo Morris (18), Harvey Owen (17), Wilf Fitchett (17) and Jevon Hirst (16) died in the tragedy in November last year.
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Hugo Morris was driving friends when they crashed Credit: WNS
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Jevon Hirst was discovered in a partially submerged carCredit: North Wales Police/PA Wire
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Wilf Fitchett sadly died when the car went off the road Credit: WNS
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Tributes have arrived for Harvey OwenCredit: North Wales Police/PA Wire
The friends were on their way to a night out in Snowdonia when the Ford Fiesta driven by Hugo veered off the road.
Sadly, the boys were left in the partially submerged, overturned car for two days before they were found dead.
An inquest in Caernarfon heard that Hugo had passed his test just six months before driving the group on the winding road.
He was said to have been driving the car “in excess” of the speed required to safely complete the bend.
Collision investigator Ian Thompson said he believed the car entered the bend at around 58mph rather than the recommended 26mph.
He also said there were “no catastrophic mechanical failures” to the car, but that the rear tires only had half the pressure required to carry four people.
Mr Thompson explained that although it was raining heavily and leaves covered the road, he did not consider the weather a factor in the horror.
The coroner told the court that in his opinion the accident “could have been avoided”.
He also said Hugo’s driving was “remarkable” in the circumstances of the accident.
A-Level students left their homes in Shrewsbury on November 19 for a camping trip.
Witnesses saw the friends “laughing and joking” as they bought camping supplies at a shop in Harlech.
They were then captured by video surveillance cameras in the Ford on the way to the mountains.
A Snapchat video posted by Wilf before the crash showed all the boys wearing seat belts, with Hugo driving, Jevon in the front seat, Harvey behind Hugo and Wilf behind Jevon.
A massive search was launched for the boys after they failed to return home.
The wrecked car, which could not be seen from the road, was spotted two days later by a passing recycling truck.
The autopsy determined that none of the boys had internal or external injuries and that he died as a result of drowning.
Paying tribute, Hugo’s family said he “gave warmth, joy and cheer”.
They added: ‘He was happy and looking forward to the weekend. The world is now broken, bent and twisted.”
Melanie Hirst, Jevon’s mum, said: “Jevon loved hanging out with his friends. He was a loving son.
“He loved being outside and walking. He was very close to his grandfather and loved visiting him in Harlech.”
Harvey’s teenage family was “charismatic and carefree” and had “everything to live for”.
While Wilf’s mum Heather Sanderson told the hearing: “The boys stayed in Harlech with Jevona’s grandfather. He texted me to say he enjoyed a full English breakfast.
“He was such good company with a great sense of humor. We were blessed to have him in our lives for 17 years. We are proud to be his family.”
The investigation continues.
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The boys were seen on CCTV climbing towards the mountains
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The horror took place in Gwynned, North WalesCredit: PA
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