Latest news with #JacobHolman
Telegraph
07-07-2025
- Telegraph
‘Naive' head boy killed two friends in car crash day after passing test
A 'naive' head boy killed two of his friends in a car crash the day after passing his test, an inquest heard. Jenson Bridges, 17, lost control of his Audi before it smashed into a tree at 'excessive speed' in Offoxey Road, in Tong, near Shifnal, Shropshire. Bridges died alongside Simon Evans, 18, a taekwondo world champion, and Jacob Holman, a 17-year-old restaurant worker. George Taylor, 17, suffered life-changing injuries but survived the crash, which happened at around 11.15pm on March 14. An inquest in Shrewsbury heard that, after Jenson passed his driving test, the group had met up with eight other friends to 'go for a drive.' Friends said Jenson had turned off the traction control in his car, so he could 'wheelspin' away from a Vauxhall Corsa and VW Golf. They told police they thought Jenson was exceeding the national speed limit of 60mph and travelling at around '90-95mph' as he sped off. Heath Westerman, assistant coroner for Shropshire, said Offoxey Road had been described by forensic officers as in a 'state of disrepair' with numerous potholes and bumps. Investigating officers said the vehicle's speedometer was stuck at 37mph, but disregarded that and suggested the incident was 'not a low-speed' crash. The court was told that the car suffered 'catastrophic' damage, with the near-side front wheel detaching from the vehicle. Investigators believe the car hit a bump in the road, causing it to hit the nearside verge, which threw the vehicle into a hedgerow and finally into a tree. Following the crash, the two cars following the Audi stopped, and the eight occupants did what they could to offer life-saving help to their four friends. Bridges and Holman both later died in hospital from 'non-survivable head injuries'. Evans died instantly from 'multiple traumatic injuries' after being ejected from the car. The coroner said Jenson's Audi had passed its MOT, was taxed, had valid insurance and was found to have had 'no mechanical defects' at the time of the crash. Jenson was also found not to have any drugs or alcohol in his system. Recording a conclusion that the three teenagers had died as a result of a road traffic collision, the coroner said: 'The collision was caused by the naïve actions of a young, inexperienced and newly qualified driver.' Following their deaths, family members paid tribute to the boys. Jacob, of Codsall, Staffordshire, was described as 'funny, loving and caring' while Simon, of Perton, Staffordshire, was hailed a 'loving and kind gentleman' who 'always had a smile on his face'. Jenson, of Brewood, Staffordshire, had the 'purest heart, who loved life and lived it to the full', said his family.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- BBC News
Staffordshire crash which killed teens 'caused by naive driver'
A crash which claimed the lives of three teenagers and left another with life-changing injuries was "caused by the naïve actions of a young, inexperienced, newly-qualified driver", a coroner has Bridges, 17, had passed his driving test the day before his Audi A1 hit a tree on Offoxey Road near Tong in Staffordshire in teenager, from Brewood, Staffordshire, died along with two passengers - 18-year-old Simon Evans from Perton, Staffordshire, and 17-year-old Jacob Holman from Tettenhall, Heath Westerman said it was "the most tragic of all" inquests he had carried out. The hearing at Shrewsbury's Guildhall heard that toxicology reports showed no sign Jenson's driving had been impaired, but there was evidence to suggest his driving was "excessively quick".The inquest also heard a 20-second Snapchat video taken by Simon Evans just seconds before the the video, the sound of Jenson Bridges wheel-spinning his car was heard as he took off along Offoxey in the video, a voice was heard to say "slow down", followed by the reply "Simon, I know these lanes mate".There were no witnesses to the crash, but investigators said they believed the driver had over-corrected after going over a dip in the road, causing the car to enter a spin and hit a hedgerow and then the said they could find no defects on the Audi or road surface that might have caused the crash and concluded a lack of driving experience and inappropriate speed were the cause. The occupants of two cars following behind witnessed "a truly horrific sight", the coroner said and they "tried to offer lifesaving interventions to their critically-injured friends".The coroner said Mr Evans died at the scene, while Mr Bridges and Mr Holman died later in Bridges' family described him as a "remarkable young man who brought immense love and joy into people's lives", who had a "legacy of love and kindness".He had been a head boy at Birchfield School and they said he had been "full of energy and enthusiasm".Jacob Holman's mother described her son as "caring and well-loved", someone whose death had left an "irreparable hole in the family".The family of Simon Evans described their son as "a gentle giant who would do anything for anybody".They said the thought of their son losing his life at the side of the road was "a haunting image that we will carry every single minute at every single day".They also said they would join families campaigning to prevent similar tragedies. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Inquests open after three teens die in car crash
Inquests into the deaths of three teenagers killed in a car crash in Shropshire are to resume in the summer after being opened and adjourned on Thursday. Simon Evans, 18, and 17-year-olds Jacob Holman and Jenson Bridges, were travelling in an Audi A1 on Offoxey Road in Tong, near Shifnal, when the crash happened last Friday night, Shropshire Coroner's Court heard. A fourth teenager, aged 17, who hasn't been named, is in hospital with life-changing injuries. Adjourning proceedings until 8 July, assistant coroner Heath Westerman said his "heartfelt sympathies" went out to the three families and all those who knew the teenagers. The court heard how student and chef Simon Evans from Perton, Staffordshire, was pronounced dead at the scene. Jacob Holman, a trainee chef from Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, died in hospital the following day, while shopfitter Jenson Bridges, from Brewood, Staffordshire, died in hospital on Sunday. The family of Simon Evans, a passenger in the car, paid tribute to him on Wednesday, saying: "Simon was just a lovely, friendly person, always with a smile on his face, he was so family-orientated, and would do absolutely anything for his friends who he was very loyal to." Police investigating the crash have appealed for information and dashcam footage. Insp Steph Arrowsmith said the force believed the Audi had been travelling with a red Vauxhall Corsa and a black Volkswagen Golf. "The vehicles were not involved in the collision in any way but we're hoping motorists in the area may remember seeing the three vehicles together," he said. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Family pays tribute to 18-year-old crash victim Three teenagers killed in car crash West Mercia Police
BBC News
20-03-2025
- BBC News
Inquests open after three teenagers die in Shifnal car crash
Inquests into the deaths of three teenagers killed in a car crash in Shropshire are to resume in the summer after being opened and adjourned on Evans, 18, and 17-year-olds Jacob Holman and Jenson Bridges, were travelling in an Audi A1 on Offoxey Road in Tong, near Shifnal, when the crash happened last Friday night, Shropshire Coroner's Court heard.A fourth teenager, aged 17, who hasn't been named, is in hospital with life-changing proceedings until 8 July, assistant coroner Heath Westerman said his "heartfelt sympathies" went out to the three families and all those who knew the teenagers. The court heard how student and chef Simon Evans from Perton, Staffordshire, was pronounced dead at the scene. Jacob Holman, a trainee chef from Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, died in hospital the following day, while shopfitter Jenson Bridges, from Brewood, Staffordshire, died in hospital on Sunday. 'Always had a smile' The family of Simon Evans, a passenger in the car, paid tribute to him on Wednesday, saying: "Simon was just a lovely, friendly person, always with a smile on his face, he was so family-orientated, and would do absolutely anything for his friends who he was very loyal to." Police investigating the crash have appealed for information and dashcam footage. Insp Steph Arrowsmith said the force believed the Audi had been travelling with a red Vauxhall Corsa and a black Volkswagen Golf."The vehicles were not involved in the collision in any way but we're hoping motorists in the area may remember seeing the three vehicles together," he said. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
