TEENAGE soldier Roger Neil Fothergill was to blame for the crash which caused his death, an inquest was told.

Roger, 17, a soldier in the Queens Lancashire Regiment was due to return to his unit at Catterick on the day he died, December 28, after spending Christmas at home with his family in South Valley Drive, Colne.

He was driving his mother's Peugeot car in Cotton Tree Lane, Colne, in the early hours of that morning when he lost control. The car spun and hit a garden wall.

Roger died from chest injuries. A friend, John Haigh of Skipton Road, Colne, suffered serious injuries but another friend Stephen Mitchell of Burnley Road, Cliviger, was able to climb out of the car through a window.

All three had been at a Christmas party at the Haverholt Close home of Hazel Gilhespy, daughter of local councillors Gill and Ian Gilhespy.

The inquest heard tests shown that Roger was under the legal alcohol driving limit at the time of the incident.

Accident investigator PC Timothy Hogan said his conclusion was that the cause of the accident lay with the driver. A combination of factors including the alcohol, lack of experience and excessive speed all had a bearing.

Pathologist Dr Abdul Al-Dawoud said cause of death was a chest injury. Analysis showed that he was just under the legal driving limit. Mr Haigh said he remembered leaving the party to go in the car to an all-night garage for some cigarettes but did not remember the accident. He suffered broken ribs a head injury, fractured pelvis and a dislocated thumb.

Mr Mitchell, 17, said he was in the back seat of the car. He thought they were travelling fast but that Roger's driving was not dangerous.

After the accident he shouted at Roger but got no response. In a panic he left the scene looking for a telephone box.

Recording a verdict of misadventure, deputy East Lancashire Coroner Mark Williams, said there was no criticism of the drink Roger had taken as it was under the legal limit. Evidence indicated he was travelling above the 30mph limit but not at a ridiculous speed.

He expressed his sincere condolences to the family and friends at their loss.