Barnham student who died in a road crash was under the influence of alcohol

17-year-old Kelly Taylor, who was close to finishing her GCSEs at St Philip Howard Catholic High School, was driving northbound along Mill Road, Arundel when she lost control of her car over a bridge and crashed into a grass verge.

Her friend Sian Clark (17) was in the passenger's seat and she managed to escape the accident with just bruises and whiplash. Kellie, known to family and friends as 'Kellie', was one-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit when she died on July 8 this year.

Miss Clark told an inquest at the Chichester Combined Court Centre that she pleaded with Kellie to slow down moments before the accident.

Miss Clark broke down in tears after she described the crash and speaking at the inquest, she said: "I can't believe how it's happened, I didn't even break a bone. I think Kellie was driving too fast and I didn't feel under the influence of alcohol.

"I was taken to St Richard's Hospital and I was bruised all over my body. They told me she had died the next day."

Kellie had spent the evening of July 7 with her friends Nathan Douglas-Pryer (18) and Miss Clark, driving her silver Fiat Punto for some of a journey to Tesco in Littlehampton.

Mr Douglas-Pryer admitted to purchasing a bottle of white wine and four cans of beer at the Tesco store, despite being only 17-years-old at the time. Kellie, Miss Clark and Mr Douglas-Pryer went back to Kellie's home in Crossbush Lane, Crossbush, Arundel.

Miss Clark said she had consumed some of the wine and Kellie had drunk two or three cans of beer.

At around midnight Kellie decided to drive to another friend's house and Miss Clark was also in the car. But after finding out her friend was not in they drove around the area to 'kill some time'.

Kellie had stopped outside the Black Rabbit pub in Mill Road and chefs Adam Michalek and Kieran Rose saw one of the girls wave and Mr Rose said the car turned around and 'sped off'.

Moments later they heard Miss Clark screaming for help and both accompanied her to the crash scene. When they got to the scene Mr Rose desperately tried to get Kellie out of her car before an ambulance arrived.

PC Simon Lane of the forensic collision investigations unit, based in Shoreham prepared a full report of the accident which occurred at around 12.50pm, and confirmed the car showed no defects after being tested.

Her parents issued a statement after the inquest, which said: "Kellie was a lovely, bubbly young lady who loved her friends, her music and her dogs. She was a loving daughter, little sister and good friend to many people.

"She leaves behind a huge gap in our lives that will never be filled. We have many memories of her short life. May she rest in peace with the angels and be in or thoughts forever."

West Sussex Coroner Penelope Schofield concluded that Miss Taylor died of severe trauma to the cervical spine and the verdict was an accidental death, while under the influence of alcohol.

She said: "Everyone here offers their condolences, this is such a tragic accident. Kellie was obviously a very bubbly, lovely young girl and had the rest of her life to look forward to.

"This has had an impact not just on her family but also on her close friends. I hope this inquest gives some form of closure to the matter. It must be dreadful time for you."

TRIBUTES FROM FRIENDS

Sian Clark:

"It has almost been four months since the untimely death of my close friend Kellie. It has been the hardest four months of my life and I desperately hope I will never have to experience something so devastating again.

"Kellie was a very close friend of mine and loosing her has left a huge void in my life, among so many others. Kellie was the most stunning and happy girl I have ever known and words cannot express how much I miss her.

"I am glad that the inquest is over and that Kellie's family and myself can now cherish the wonderful memories and the lover and light she brought to so many lives."

Nathan Douglas-Pryer:

After the inquest finished Mr Douglas-Pryer said: "I miss her more than ever".

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