Trio killed in 'ball of fire' crash - inquest

A man and two teenagers were killed in a "ball of fire" crash in Cornwall, an inquest has heard.

The hearing was told Ben Mason's BMW crashed into a tree on the A390 near St Ive on 18 April last year after a "dangerous" cat and mouse game with an Audi.

The inquest heard the 30-year-old vet - who was two-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit - died along with passengers Jamie Lane, 18, and Luke Warner, 16.

Assistant coroner Stephen Covell, who recorded a conclusion of road traffic accident, was told two of the four juveniles in the Audi shouted out to the BMW but left when they believed the trio inside had died.

PC Helen Lenton told the inquest in Truro that Luke Warner had been in the Audi, which had been taken by a juvenile while his mother was on holiday, but had got out and slammed the door.

She said he then got in the BMW driven by Mr Mason at Kit Hill near Callington.

PC Lenton said while police were "unable to prove" the cars had been racing, footage from Mr Mason's car showed they had been speeding along a 50mph road and both vehicles had overtaken each other several times.

Mr Mason's driving had been "erratic" before the crash, PC Lenton added.

The inquest heard after the crash, the four people in the Audi came across the smoking wreckage of the BMW.

Two people shouted out to the crashed vehicle, but drove away when they believed the trio inside were all dead, the inquest was told.

The inquest heard a witness said the BMW car then burst in a "ball of fire" with the victims inside it.

The driver of the Audi did not have a driving licence or insurance, the inquest heard.

The assistant coroner heard Mr Mason's body was severely burned and a pathologist said he died from multiple injuries, as did his two teenage passengers.

The coroner said Mr Mason had driven in an "erratic and dangerous" manner before losing control on a slight bend sending his car over the carriageway before it struck the large tree.

Mr Covell recorded a conclusion of road traffic accident on Mr Mason and the two teenagers, who were both described as "the life and soul" by their mothers.

Follow BBC Cornwall on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].