A BURY inquest pieced together the final moments before a horrific accident claimed three lives.

A combination of two rear deflated tyres, water on the road and legal, but excessive, speed in poor weather conditions were attributed to the tragic smash which killed two teenagers, a 49-year-old mother of two and injured three others.

Mini driver and college student Martin Keen, his friend James Adams, both 17, and Mrs Lesley Millerchip died instantly in the two car accident last October on Manchester Road, Ramsbottom.

According to accident investigations carried out by police, the driver of the Ford Fiesta carrying Mrs Millerchip had only one and a half seconds to react to the Mini which lost control and veered across the wrong side of the road.

Both vehicles collided, causing the three deaths, while Mini passengers Tom Dawson and James Rothwell managed to climb free of the wreckage. Fiesta driver Mrs Christina Atkinson suffered head and chest injuries and was trapped in the vehicle for 45 minutes before being cut free by firemen.

The inquest at Bury was told how Martin Keen and his three friends, together with another Ford Fiesta, were heading towards Ramsbottom after watching James Adams play in a pool tournament.

"When I saw the Mini it was sliding towards me sideways and was right on top of me," said Mrs Atkinson who suffered concussion, head injuries and a broken breast bone. "I braked hard and we hit."

Tests on Mrs Atkinson's car later showed the brake pedal had buckled under the pressure. Coroner Mr Barrie Williams also heard how Martin Keen's Mini had problems with a possible slow puncture in one of the rear tyres and was inflated only hours before the tragedy. Post accident examinations revealed both back tyres were below the recommended pressure.

Recording verdicts of accidental death on all three victims, Mr Williams said Mrs Atkinson was blameless for the accident in light of "the short space of time from the loss of the Mini's control and its collision with her Fiesta".

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