A TEENAGED driver prosecuted for causing the death of his 17-year-old girlfriend by driving without due care and attention has admitted he could have been travelling at around 80mph seconds before the fatal crash.

Bethany Paige Adams of Orchard Close, Williton died from multiple traumatic injuries at the scene of the accident at the bottom of Halsway Hill on the A358 on January 7.

An inquest into her death on Tuesday heard that she was a front seat passenger in a Citroen Saxo driven by Charlie Blandford-Corp, with whom she had been in a relationship for just three weeks.

The car hit a tree and rolled over after farm worker Mr Blandford-Corp, who was also 17 at the time of the crash, lost control as he over-corrected the vehicle to pull it back onto his side of the road while trying to negotiate a bend.

Mr Blandford-Corp from Alcombe, who had passed his driving test just four months earlier, received a four month suspended prison sentence, was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and was banned from driving for 18 months after pleading guilty to driving without due care and attention at Taunton Deane Magistrates Court at the end of July.

The court was told there was "no evidence to suggest he had been speeding" and although the speedometer was stuck at 66mph, the best estimate of his minimum speed at the point of impact was 58mph.

But at the inquest in Minehead witness Oliver Bircher, who was driving a Land Rover in the opposite direction, said he estimated Mr Blandford-Corp's speed as he came down Halsway Hill at about 80mph - 20mph above the speed limit.

He said he was on his way home to Crowcombe when he saw a car - the Citroen Saxo - coming down the hill "at a very high speed."

"As he approached the bend he came round it slightly on my side of the road," said Mr Bircher.

He said when he looked in his mirror he saw the vehicle had crashed.

Mr Bircher told the hearing that roughly half of the Citroen Saxo was on his side of the road.

"I would say he was doing around 80mph coming down the hill - not 80mph around the bend but he was going very fast around the bend.

"He had obviously taken out speed as he came round the bend. He obviously reacted because he cut back to his side of the road.

"I was definitely on my side of the road."

Ramona Horstman and her partner were among the first people on the scene following the crash.

She said they had been returning to Dunster when they came across debris in the road and saw a man standing near a very damaged car.

"He was shaking and was obviously in deep shock."

Ms Horstman said it was not until her partner and a nurse, who had also stopped, went across to the car that they realised there was anyone in it.

She said she asked Mr Blandford-Corp what had happened.

"He said he was coming down the hill on the wrong side of the road and had tried to correct the car but there was mud on the road.

"He said the car had hit a bank, then a tree and rolled over.

"He said he was driving too fast for the road."

Giving evidence, Mr Blandford-Corp at first said he could not remember anything about speeding as he travelled down the hill.

But West Somerset coroner Michael Rose asked him: "It has been said by one witness that your speed was 80mph - is that correct?"

Mr Blandford-Corp replied: "It could be correct."

He added: "I know I straddled the white line - yes, probably about half a car over," he said.

"I pulled myself back onto my side of the road to correct myself."

Mr Blandford-Corp said the radio was on in the car and music was playing but he did not know what had happened next.

"I can't remember anything else."

Miss Adams' parents, Helen and Mark and sister Danielle were at the inquest and the family's solicitor Roger Henderson asked Mr Blandford-Corp if he had anything to say to them.

"I would like to say I'm very sorry for all the damage I have caused," he said, providing an apology the family had long been calling for.

Under questioning, Mr Blandford-Corp also admitted previously promising Miss Adams' mother that he would drive carefully.

And it emerged that on one occasion Miss Adams asked him to slow down when he was driving at 40mph in a 30mph speed limit.

The inquest had earlier heard a statement from hospital porter Michael Mahoney, who had been overtaken by Mr Blandford-Corp's car shortly before the crash.

Mr Mahoney said he had also seen him overtake another car when the Citroen Saxo crossed double white lines on the road.

But he said in his opinion both manoeuvres had been carried out safely and had not endangered other road users.

Police collision investigator PC David Watson said it was not possible to calculate the exact speed of the Citroen Saxo.

But applying harsh steering whilst negotiating the bend may have caused Mr Blandford-Corp to lose control.

PC Watson said a lack of driving experience may also have been a factor.

But he said there was no evidence of mud or any other contaminant on the road that could have caused the loss of control.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Rose said Miss Adams was on the threshold of life and her death was a tragedy.

He said he was certain that Mr Blandford-Corp was travelling in excess of the speed limit and that speed was a factor in the accident.

"It is fortunate for him that he was prosecuted on a lesser charge."

Mr Rose said he intended to use his powers to seek action to prevent future deaths by calling for all novice drivers to have an identifiable badge on their vehicles and be subject to a 50mph speed limit on national roads.

He said the A358 from Taunton to Williton was one of the most accident-prone roads in the area but it was well marked and subject to a 60mph speed limit.

"I am certain that Mr Blandford-Corp was in excess of that speed limit," said Mr Rose.

Expressing his condolences to Miss Adams' family he said: "This is a tragedy that no parent wishes to see unfold."