A TEENAGE driver and his 14-year-old friend died when their speeding car spun off the road after hitting a fence post dumped on the carriageway.

Eighteen-year-old Warren Taylor and his passenger Kirsty Goodes were killed instantly when the Ford Escort they were in lost control and ploughed into a tree.

The tragic pair were the last in a convoy of four cars driving back to Pershore, after a late-night trip to Macdonald's in Evesham, an inquest heard yesterday.

Leading the convoy was Adam Lane in a red Vauxhall Nova.

Behind him were Edward Newbury and Kirsty's sister Gemma, in a white Escort XRi.

Third was Paul Taylor, Warren's best friend, in a green Nova.

Just before the convoy reached Cropthorne, Warren Taylor, of Furlongs Road, Pershore, overtook the three cars in front of him at around 80mph giving a "victory" sign out of his car window.

Mr Lane, giving evidence, told how the friends had left Evesham, at around 11pm on Monday, July 3.

"Warren was disappearing off into the distance," he told yesterday's inquest.

"He was well clear of us. For no apparent reason, the car lost control and swerved.

"He went over to the right hand side of the road before the car just shot back on to the other side and I lost sight of him again."

Paul Taylor, who struck up a friendship with Warren at primary school, said the Escort "swerved to get away from an animal or something" before skidding broadside across the road.

He spotted the car lying on its side in a ditch as they drove past. It was wrapped round a tree.

All three reversed back to help. Gemma Goodes dialled 999, but both her sister, of Fulbert Road, Pershore, and Mr Taylor were already dead.

Accident investigator PC Paul Fulbrook revealed damage to a block of wood found in the road matched damage to Mr Taylor's offside front tyre.

Assistant deputy Worcestershire Coroner Dr Nigel Garbutt, recording a verdict of accidental death, said Mr Taylor had "misjudged" the situation and panicked when he hit the wood.

"He probably over-corrected his steering and found himself in a vehicle which was out of control," he said.

"Having got out of control and left the road he then came into contact with a tree which arrested all the motion of the vehicle resulting in fatal injuries to both occupants."