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Inquest held into death of Strood teenager Jack Mander

Questions still surround the death of Strood teenager Jack Mander following an inquest today.

The 17-year-old died after his motorcycle crashed into the back of a lorry parked in Anthony’s Way on Medway City Estate on Thursday October 13 last year.

Evidence from the police suggested the Volvo lorry Jack crashed into was visible to other road users, and that Jack had been travelling almost twice the 30mph speed limit - but family members have said his death would have been avoidable if the lorry had displayed parking lights.

Jack Mander
Jack Mander

Assistant coroner for Mid Kent and Medway Katrina Hepburn heard from the police that Jack had been travelling at 58mph, but concluded that the evidence about his speed was “uncertain”.

The court also looked at whether the bright headlights of an oncoming vehicle could have obscured Jack’s view of the lorry before the crash, but it was impossible to conclude to what extent - if any - the oncoming lights had contributed to the crash.

“What I can say is the motorcycle seems to be travelling faster than the other cars moving in the other direction, but I can’t say what speed they were travelling,” said Mrs Hepburn. “I find that the speed would have been in excess of 30 mph.

“Some suggestion has been made by the family that it was dark - I accept that it would have been difficult to see the top of the lorry given that the reflective strips were at the bottom of the lorry.

“I also accept there was an oncoming vehicle with headlights that were brighter than other vehicles.”

She concluded that Jack died from multiple injuries as the result of a road traffic accident.

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