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Jack Mosley inquest hears how car swerved off Old Thanet Way and hit tree

Mystery surrounds the death of teenager Jack Mosley, who died after his car swerved off the Old Thanet Way and into a tree.

The crash happened just after 2am on Saturday, September 23, last year after Mr Mosley, who had just secured a bricklaying apprenticeship, had been for a night out with friends.

He died six weeks later in hospital in London.

Jack Mosley died six weeks after the crash
Jack Mosley died six weeks after the crash

An inquest, held at Margate Magistrates' Court, heard how Mr Mosley was driving home when his car span off the Old Thanet Way near Greenhill and hit a tree.

The 19-year-old had only bought his blue Vauxhall Corsa a few days earlier.

Assistant coroner for north east Kent, James Dillon, recorded a conclusion of a road traffic collision, saying: "There is evidence of a sharp turn being made to the left, causing his vehicle to leave the carriageway to the near side and ultimately collide with well established vegetation, in which he sustained very serious injuries.

"No reason for him to steer off the carriageway has been identified but no third party was involved.

"He was treated in King's College Hospital, where he died as a result of his injuries on November 5."

Mr Mosley, of Broomfield, Herne Bay, had attended Herne Bay High School and then Canterbury College.

While there he studied public services in his first year and then mechanics in his second year. He had also had a short stint as a painter and decorator.

A statement from Mr Mosley's mother read at the inquest said: "He lived at home with me and his sister. He loved cars and motorbikes."

Mr Mosley had told his mother that night he was with a friend, Harry Burningham, and two female friends, and that he was happy and would be coming home.

A statement from Mr Burningham, from Whitstable, said: "He seemed a safe and careful driver and a happy person – there was never a dull moment.

"He seemed chatty and he seemed in control of the car. He started slurring his words just before my house. I asked if he was OK and he said he was."

Mr Mosley died at King's College Hospital, where he had been treated since the morning of the accident.

The scene of the crash
The scene of the crash

On November 4, the day before Mr Mosley's death, it was explained to his family that the medical teams treating him were not expecting any improvement in his condition.

The next day ventilated support was withdrawn, and he died comfortably.

The cause of death was given as a severe traumatic brain injury. His organs were donated in line with his wishes.

The inquest heard how although Mr Mosley had trace amounts of alcohol and cannabis in his system, neither was of a level which could have contributed to the crash.

He had six milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, well below the legal limit of 80, and the level of cannabis was also well below the legal limit.

"He reacted to something, but we can't know what that was" - coroner James Dillon

PC David Burley of the Kent Police forensic investigation unit said street lights in the area were on, Mr Mosley had been wearing his seatbelt, there was no evidence of contact with another vehicle, there were no contributory defects with the car, and there were no reports of bad weather.

Police were unable to calculate the vehicle's speed. PC Burley said the car left the road due to harsh or excessive steering.

PC Derek Mole said it could not be ruled out that Mr Mosley had steered in an attempt to avoid an animal. Mr Mosley's mobile phone was in his jeans pocket, suggesting that he had not been using it at the time of the crash.

Coroner Mr Dillon said: "He reacted to something, but we can't know what that was. I hope this inquest provides some closure. Condolences from all of us on the loss of Jack, a young man at the start of his career."

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