A 17-year-old boy who had passed his driving test just 11 days earlier died instantly after crashing his car on a rural road in Devon, an inquest has heard.
Archie Harris lost control of his Ford Fiesta while travelling around a bend on the A3072 near his home in Holsworthy on May 26, 2024. The teenager was not wearing a seatbelt and was driving at an estimated speed in excess of 80mph, well above the 60mph limit, the inquest at Exeter Coroner's Court was told.
His car left the road, hit a tree and landed nose down in a gully. Archie was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene at 4.39pm. A post-mortem found he died of multiple injuries. There was no alcohol in his system and his phone was found in his pocket.
On the day of the crash, Archie had met friends at a car park in Holsworthy and driven in a three-car convoy to a pub. After playing pool, the group left shortly before 4pm, with Archie's car last in the convoy. Witnesses reported seeing cars driving recklessly at speed around a bend.
Coroner Alison Longhorn recorded a conclusion of death as a result of a road traffic collision, noting that Archie was driving beyond his level of experience. His mother, Georgina, described him as a “larger than life” character who was always polite and had a large friendship group. She said his death has left a “massive void” in their lives.
