A TEENAGER made unfounded claims of driving at 115mph minutes before a fatal car crash.

A Hereford inquest heard on Friday, October 10, how Michael Jennings, aged 17, died after a crash on the A4111 south of Kington.

Mr Jennings, from Kington, boasted that his Rover 214 “went like stink” shortly before his death on February 15.

But his claims were dismissed as bragging by police and his family, who paid tributes to a teenager who was always smiling.

The inquest heard the car left the road on a bend before hitting a wall near Greenacres.

Dr Mark Hayes said the victim later died in Hereford County Hospital from a cardiac arrest, brought on by multiple injuries and trauma.

Christopher Gaster, of Almeley, sold the Rover to Mr Jennings and the pair met by chance in a Kington petrol station shortly before the crash.

There Mr Jennings made the claims, but his parents and PC Ian Edwards said the Rover’s clutch was slipping and had an original top speed of 108mph.

PC Edwards said excessive steering may have caused the crash and added that the car had a theoretical speed of 83mph at the time of impact.

No vehicle defects were reported, while driving conditions were good.

Michael’s mother, Linda Jennings, said her son was a loyal man who made people feel special and called his loss “immeasurable”.

“He had a great determination to do and experience everything that life had to offer,” she said.

“He liked to get on with things and he was always smiling.

“He was loved by many and because of his flaws he was made more endearing and our loss is immeasurable.”

Deputy Coroner Roland Wooderson called the incident extremely sad and recorded a verdict of accidental death.