A ‘very special young man’ suffered severe head injuries which were ‘rapidly fatal’ following a crash, a coroner has heard.
Devonte Scott, 18, was driving a Ford Fiesta when it collided with two cars after failing to stop for police on Urmston Road in Stretford. A large number of emergency services including police, fire and an air ambulance attended the scene, but the teenager was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
A coroner is set to examine the full circumstances surrounding Mr Scott's death in August. A pre-inquest review at South Manchester Coroner’s Court in Stockport on Wednesday (June 1) heard how Mr Scott suffered ‘severe head injuries’ in the crash.
READ MORE: Teenager, 19, charged with terrorism offences after police raid his Liverpool home
Chris Morris, Area Coroner for Greater Manchester South, heard that an autopsy report declared Mr Scott’s injuries had been ‘rapidly fatal’ and were ‘unsurvivable regardless of medical intervention’. A five-day inquest into Mr Scott’s death was previously scheduled for August 8. It has not yet been decided whether the inquest will be held in front of a jury or not.
Mr Morris made a series of legal directions ahead of a further pre-inquest review, which has been set for July 22. The later review will decide which evidence, including dash cam footage and a police conduct report, will be submitted for the full inquest.
An 'extensive' investigation was carried out by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), following the crash. The final report has been shared with Mr Morris and Mr Scott’s family.
At the time of the crash, GMP said officers attempted to stop the Ford Fiesta on Urmston Lane but it made off in the opposite direction. The force said the police vehicle turned around and shortly afterwards, found the Fiesta had been in a collision with two other cars.
A list of witnesses has been collated for August’s inquest, which will include Mr Scott’s partner, his mother and two police officers, who have been named as PC Matthew Stamp and PC Matthew Sale.
Addressing Mr Scott’s family at the pre-inquest review, Mr Morris described the 18-year-old as a ‘very special young man whose life has been lost at such a young age’. Following his death, those who knew the teenager described him as having a smile that 'lit up a room.'
Sign up for Trafford news updates direct to your inbox with our email newsletter .
