Eastbourne teenager’s crash was tragic accident

Jacob Sargeant’s vehicle hit a grass verge, ploughed through a fence and rolled several times before coming to rest in a farmer’s field on the evening of Saturday May 30 last year.

The inquest at Eastbourne on Thursday (February 18) was told the 17-year-old removals porter had been driving within the national speed limit when the accident happened.

Crash investigators from Sussex Police said his vehicle had gone into a state of oversteer and the more Jacob had tried to right it, the more the back of the car swerved in a “fishtail” before crashing.

The former St Catherine’s College pupil suffered multiple injuries after being thrown from the car.

Jacob, who lived with his family in Horsa Close, Eastbourne, and his girlfriend Lucy Lowndes had been on their way to a car meet in Newhaven and friend Tobias Crossland was in his vehicle behind the couple.

Mr Crossland gave evidence at the inquest and said he was not aware Jacob was driving too fast but watched in horror as the car left the road.

As he raised the alarm – along with passing motorist Graham Irving – an armed police unit which happened to be en-route to Seaford from Eastbourne came across the accident and officers tried in vain to resuscitate Jacob.

Chris Harrison, a forensic collision investigator with Sussex Police, said the car did not have any defects. The inquest also heard Jacob and Miss Lowndes were both wearing seat belts and toxicology results showed he had not been drinking.

East Sussex coroner Alan Craze described the accident as a ‘complete tragedy’ and recorded a conclusion that Jacob’s death was due to a road traffic collision.

Jacob, who would have turned 18 a week after his death, was described by his family as someone who had the kindest heart, who brought so much happiness to so many people and put a smile on everyone’s face.