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Seat belt could have saved tragic teen
A RUGBY teenager who died at the wheel of a car may have survived if he'd been wearing a seat belt, an inquest has heard.
Scott Jones, 18, was killed almost instantly when the vehicle he was driving crashed into a viaduct in Butler's Leap while being followed by police.
The red Toyota Carina was being tracked by a police officer in a marked vehicle after a report of a robbery in Lindale, Brownsover, at 1.06am on Saturday, June 27.
Road conditions were wet and Scott, of Ferndown Road, Overslade, was well over the drink drive limit and not wearing a seat belt.
At the Leamington inquest, PC Michael Barnett, said he got a call at around 1am following an incident in Brownsover and noticed a Toyota Carina with two males in being driven with no lights.
He followed it for around half a mile before it crashed while speeding in a 30mph zone.
PC Barnett said: "The vehicle was travelling towards the viaduct and instead of taking the bend it just went straight on and collided with the bridge."
Accident investigator, PC Mark Phillips, said: "There were no marks on the seat belt buckles.
"If they were worn at the time of the collision there would've been friction marks.
"There was no evidence that Scott had braked as there were no marks on the road.
The crash damage showed the vehicle had been travelling at 34mph at the time of impact.
"If Scott had been wearing a seatbelt his chances of survival would have been better, that's not to say he would have," said PC Phillips.
Scott died of a ruptured aorta. The teenage passenger survived the crash but has been left with serious head injuries and has no recollection of the crash.
Recording a verdict of accidental death, Coroner Sean McGovern, said: "I would like to offer my sincere condolences. To lose a child at 18 is difficult to take because you're just starting to see how they could be as a man.
"It's a very sad thing to take."
His family this week paid tribute to Scott, who friends say was 'born and joker and died a legend'.
His mother, Lorraine, said: "It has been eight long months since our lovely Scott was suddenly taken from us.
"He has left a huge gap in our lives and we miss him so much everyday.
"He was a loving young family man with a big heart of gold who was loved by many people.
"He especially loved his three nieces and nephew, who adored him too."
Scott's sisters, Marie McEnery, 34, and Donna Henry, 30, and brother, Jake Jones, 17, said they feel privileged to have had him in their lives.
They want to make it clear Scott did not have a criminal record.
They said: "Scott loved football, especially Coventry City.
"He attended every home game and as many away games as he could and would be pleased to see how well they are doing so far this season!
"Scott had a passion for music and liked all types, especially the Killers and Snow Patrol and was always getting us to listen to his favourite 'tunes'.
"He was the best son, brother, grandson, nephew, uncle and friend and feel privileged to have had him in our lives for 18 years.
"We only wish that we could spend many more years with him but he has left us all with many special memories of time we spent with him.
"Scott was described by his friends as a 'joker' and had a real way of making everyone laugh, his friends especially miss his 'jokes'.
"One of his close friends said that he was 'born a joker died a legend'."
Scott's family would like to thank everyone who has posted messages on Scott's Facebook wall and also on the group RIP Scott Jones.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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