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Sheerness man who died on the M2 near Chatham was driving at 117mph minutes before crash without seatbelt, inquest hears

17:34, 26 July 2022

updated: 20:18, 26 July 2022

A popular young man who died after losing control of his BMW on the M2 was driving at 117mph minutes before the fatal accident, an inquest has heard.

Frankie Wright, from Sheerness, wasn't wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from his car after it had flipped onto its roof on the motorway near Chatham at around 10pm on Tuesday, February 8.

Sheppey resident Frankie Wright suffered fatal injuries when his BMW M6 left the M2 near Chatham
Sheppey resident Frankie Wright suffered fatal injuries when his BMW M6 left the M2 near Chatham

The 25-year-old was airlifted to Kings College Hospital in London, but died two days later.

Friends and family of the lorry driver were at Maidstone's Archbishop's Palace this afternoon for his inquest and heard how the 25-year-old suffered "catastrophic injuries" following the incident.

Coroner Sonia Hayes explained how the Sheppey Academy pupil's cause of death was given as multiple injuries to his head and chest.

Evidence from one of Kent Police's collision investigation officers PC Simon Masteron explained how telematics from Mr Wright's BMW M6 had shown 10 minutes of data from his trip along the M2 where he had been driving within the speed limit as well as exceeding it.

One data point two minutes before the incident, at Stone Lane bridge, which is just under four miles from the crash scene, showed the young drive speeding at 117mph.

Dozens of friends and family attended popular Frankie Wright's inquest in Maidstone
Dozens of friends and family attended popular Frankie Wright's inquest in Maidstone

The court heard accounts from multiple witnesses claiming the BMW had been driving at a high speed along the coastbound carriageway before the fatal collision.

PC Masterson detailed how it is likely Mr Wright lost control of the vehicle due to "lift off over steer" - which happens when you take your foot off the accelerator or apply the brakes while steering.

He then skid for nearly 200m, from the slip off the M2 for Junction 3 all the way to the entrance back onto the motorway, before hitting the verge and some trees and flipping his car.

The BMW was found on its roof, which had been completely deformed from the impact, with Mr Wright nearby.

PC Masterson said due to the length of the skid and the condition of the car he believes Mr Wright was speeding at the time of losing control, but can't say for certain whether he was driving at a speed of around 117mph.

Car fan Frankie Wright's favourite quad bike was mounted on a flat-bed lorry for his funeral at the Garden of England cemetery, Bobbing. Picture: John Nurden
Car fan Frankie Wright's favourite quad bike was mounted on a flat-bed lorry for his funeral at the Garden of England cemetery, Bobbing. Picture: John Nurden
A bonnet tribute to car mad Frankie Wright at his funeral. Picture: John Nurden
A bonnet tribute to car mad Frankie Wright at his funeral. Picture: John Nurden

He also added it is still not known exactly what caused him to lose control of the vehicle.

The court heard how previously that evening a tyre pressure warning sign had come up on his car and that the experienced lorry driver took the car to Queensborough service station and inflated the correct tyre.

Some questions were raised about whether or not one of Mr Wright's tyres had blown out and caused the crash, but PC Masterson said this was very unlikely.

Further evidence read by Ms Hayes said the weather conditions were dry, there was nothing wrong with the car and there was nothing in Mr Wright's system which would have impaired his cognition.

Concluding a verdict of road traffic accident, the coroner expressed her condolences to more than a dozen of the Sheppey man's family and friends in attendance.

Motor-mad Frankie Wright was driving at speeds of up to 117mph just minutes before his fatal crash, an inquest has heard
Motor-mad Frankie Wright was driving at speeds of up to 117mph just minutes before his fatal crash, an inquest has heard

Following his death Mr Wright's family were "blown away" with the amount of tributes for the lorry driver from Sittingbourne-based Wigglesworth Travel.

Sister Kimberley said: "So many people have said how much they loved him, I never knew he had so many friends."

In March so many of his friends wanted to pay tribute to the car enthusiast that there was a nine-minute stream of cars and bikes at his funeral.

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