KEY POINTS:
A Tauranga teenager who died after his car collided with a 4WD and burst into flames was driving up to 125kmh on a wet stretch of road with a 80kmh speed limit.
Tauranga coroner Michael Cooney said speed was the main cause of the crash which claimed the life of 17-year- old Jordan Crockett and resulted in injuries to seven others.
The inquest into Mr Crockett's death heard how at 9.35pm on October 3, he was driving his Nissan Skyline when it collided with a 4WD on SH2 near Kinloch Dr, about 1km north of Bethlehem.
Crash analyst Senior Constable Chris Hills said his investigation found Mr Crockett's vehicle was travelling in convoy with two other cars in his group at speed when he lost control on a left-hand bend while overtaking a car.
Mr Crockett - who was travelling west to Bethlehem - crossed the centre line into the path of a 4WD driven towards Tauranga by Stella Williams.
Mr Hills said Mr Crockett's passenger, Eli Muller, told police that his friend had pulled out to the passing lane "doing about 100kmh".
He said he recalls the car "fish-tailing" before he lost control, crossed the centreline and collided with the 4WD. "The rest is just big blank," he said.
Other witness accounts confirmed that Mr Crockett's vehicle and another vehicle were travelling at speed side-by side.
It was also found that Mr Crockett accelerated, then the rear of the car slid out towards the other lane.
One witness account stated his vehicle spun clockwise around for about 130 degrees over the centre line before it hit the 4WD and burst into flames.
Mr Hills said Mr Crockett's car had imploded on impact when his fuel tank ruptured, and both cars caught fire, possibly due to the fuel from his Skyline.
Mr Crockett died from high-energy impact injuries and severe burns.
His passenger, Otumoetai College student Mr Muller, 16, was dragged burning from the car by Bethlehem men Dirk de Vries and Geoff Rothwell.
Mr Muller suffered serious burns to his face, shoulders and neck while Miss Williams, 45, of Welcome Bay, sustained moderate head and chest injuries.
Her youngster sister, Angie Williams, 42, of Merivale, sustained a burst bowel and broken ribs while her elder sister Hazel , 47, also of Merivale, suffered abdominal and chest injuries.
Her nephew Devon, 9, received abdominal injuries, her niece Zahara, 11, suffered minor leg injuries, and another niece Pastal Rayner, 4, received a minor nose injury.
While the crash impact was in the eastbound lane, the two vehicles ended up two metres down a grass bank, Mr Hills said.
He said there were no mechanical defects found on either of the vehicles which would have contributed to the crash nor was alcohol a factor for either driver.
One witness said Mr Crockett was travelling at greater than 100kmh, possibly at 110kmh but "no more than 120kmh."
However, Mr Hills said his conclusion was that speed was the primary cause of the crash.
He said Mr Crockett was driving somewhere between 110 and 125kmh, in an area designated 80kmh.
His speed was also too great for the conditions, as the road was damp, and there was a 75kmh signpost on that particular bend.
Mr Crockett, who was a restricted licence holder, was also in breach of his licence conditions because his passenger hadn't had a full licence for the required two years, Mr Hills said.
He also said the manner of Crockett's driving on that night may well also have been a factor.
Mr Cooney said he reached the same conclusions as Mr Hills and that speed was the principal cause of the crash.
He said he wanted to formally acknowledge Mr Rothwell who played a key role in taking control at the crash scene on the night.
Mr Cooney also praised the heroism of Mr de Vries and Mr Rothwell who had prevented another fatality.
