Jade Rice, 17, died with Danny Atkin-son, also 17, in a car crash in Bradley Road, Huddersfield, early on January 29, 2006.

Yesterday Huddersfield Coroners' Court heard the pair were staying at halfway house The Aspiration's Project, in Bradley, and had gone out in support worker Mohammed Tanwir's car.

Jade, who planned to move back to Halifax and start a hairdressing course at Calderdale College, had only been at the home for a month.

The silver Toyota Corolla lost control on a bend in the road, spun and hit a tree before hitting a lamp-post. Neighbours described hearing a loud exhaust motoring along Bradley Road before the crash.
Pathologist George Thomas said both youngsters died from multiple injuries.

Witnesses, including brothers Christopher and Daniel Boltwood, estimated the car was travelling at between 80 to 100 mph on the 40mph limit single carriageway road.

Coroner Roger Whittaker heard from accident investigators Richard Lambourn, of the Transport Research Laboratory, and John Green, from West Yorkshire Police's collision investigation unit, that the Toyota was probably doing between 55 and 60mph, when it hit the trunk – but it could have been around 80mph.

Mr Green said: "The damage to that car was the worst I have ever seen on a 40mph road."

Jade's stepfather Barry Noble, of Daisy Bank, Savile Park, Halifax, told the court that before the accident Jade had told him and her mum Elaine that she had been in a car with someone who drove too fast.

Daniel's then girlfriend Laura Carmody said Daniel told her a support workers had taken him for a drive at 80mph.

Project director Charmaine Lawrence said she did not know Mr Tanwir, who was cleared of causing death by dangerous driving and leaving the scene of an accident, had taken anyone out in his car. It was not part of his job.

• Proceeding