A STUDENT died in a horror crash on black ice as his best friend drove him to work, an inquest heard.

Acting coroner Simon Nelson recorded a verdict of accidental death on Craig Jessop, of Bowen Street, Halliwell, Bolton, who died almost instantly in the horrific crash last December.

The inquest heard evidence from a number of witnesses that there was no sign of grit on the treacherous surface of Hall Lane, Aspull, when the accident happened.

But the head of Wigan Council's road gritting team Frank Spencer told the hearing that the road was included in a routine gritting programme the previous night.

However, Mr Nelson stressed during the inquest that it was not his job to comment on matters which could be the subject of future legal dispute between Mr Jessop's family's legal representatives and solicitors acting for Wigan Council.

Bolton Institute HND business studies student Mr Jessop, aged 20, was a front seat passenger in a Peugeot 406 being driven by Yogesh Mistry of Chorley Old Road, Bolton, when it lost control and skidded into the front of an articulated lorry travelling in the opposite direction just before 9am on December 28.

The pair were heading towards Wigan where Mr Jessop was doing some work for his friend during the Christmas holiday break. The inquest heard that his mother Pamela Jessop had last seen him before he went out on the night before his death.

She said: "He was a unique young man who loved life and had a fantastic sense of humour. He was happy and polite, kind and positive."

A post mortem examination revealed that Mr Jessop had died from a transaction of the aortic valve which leads to the heart. About two litres of blood were discovered in his chest.

The inquest heard detailed evidence from Mr Spencer, the works superintendent of the highways DLO at Wigan Council.

He said: "The gritters had been out from 9pm. I was on duty through the night and when there was a forecast of snow I went out on a drive round the borough at 6am to see if more gritting was needed.

"There was no evidence to suggest that showers had washed the salt away."

However, the driver of the articulated lorry involved in the crash, Derek Bain, said he had been aware of the road surface being slippy and he had been losing traction on the way from Hindley to Aspull.

And Sgt Chris Noblett of Wigan traffic police told the inquest there was a large area of black ice on the road at Hall Lane when he arrived shortly after the crash.

He said: "It was clear that the accident was due in part to the icy conditions. There was no evidence of grit on the road."

Sgt Noblett said that he spoke to Mr Spencer urging him to send gritters out onto the roads following a series of accidents in the Wigan area that morning.

He said: "Mr Spencer stated to me that the temperature was rising and the roads did not warrant gritting." The inquest also heard that it was not certain whether Mr Jessop had been wearing a seat-belt. There were friction marks on the driver's belt but not on the passenger's belt.

A transcript of Mr Mistry's police interview was read out at the hearing.

During the interview he said that he had not noticed the icy conditions until the car started to skid.

He said: "A force like a magnet dragged me across to the other side of the road."

Summing up Mr Nelson said: "Witnesses have said that conditions were appalling for driving in. According to Mr Spencer's information Hall Lane was gritted, but we have no direct evidence as to whether his instructions were fully carried out.

"A very fine young man with a great deal of potential has tragically lost his life in this accident."

Mr Jessop's family were too upset to comment following the inquest.