Teen passed driving test six months before horror Snowdonia crash that killed four

A passed his driving test just six months before a tragic Snowdonia crash that , an heard.

Hugo Morris, 18, was at the wheel of his Ford Fiesta when it crashed off the road on a sharp bend before overturning into waters from a fast-flowing river. Hugo along with friends Jevon Hirst, 16, Harvey Owen and Wilf Henderson, both 17, were reported missing after their families failed to hear from them during the .

The four teenagers were eventually found dead two days after the alarm was raised, after their vehicle left the road and was found on its roof in the water-filled ditch. A collision investigator said although all the boys were wearing seatbelts the car's two rear tyres were underinflated.

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Ian Thompson, a forensic collision investigator, said there was an "understeer" as the car rounded the bend on the 60mph road. Hugo's Fiesta entered the bend at about 25mph on the road over the river after heavy rain.

Mr Thompson said the fastest speed to negotiate the bend safely would be about 26mph. He said the driving of Hugo Morris was "significant" in the circumstances of the accident and the accident was "avoidable". Mr Thompson said Mr Morris had been a "relatively new" driver having passed his test six months and 16 days before the accident.

He found from Natural Resources Wales that water in the nearby river had therefore risen by about one metre, which is symptomatic of the water in the ditch. He said the upside down Ford Fiesta would have been "fully submerged" in water. The rainy and road markings playde no part in the cause.

He said there were two "rolling tyre marks" on a 60 degree slope, down off the road. A huge search had been sparked before the Ford Fiesta they had been travelling in was spotted by a passing recycling lorry.

Passenger Sion Griffiths spotted the vehicle and dialled 999 after checking a police appeal for information on . The car was "partially submerged in water" having flipped on its roof and was hard to see from the nearby road.

The four had gone 80 miles from home for a night of adventure away in Snowdonia, North Wales, when their car flipped off the road and was found on its roof. They had stayed with Jevon Hirst's grandfather in Harlech, Gwynedd, and enjoyed breakfast together before setting off in the car.

But police and rescue teams had been searching a huge area of land made more difficult by the treacherous mountainous landscape around Snowdonia. Traces of cannabis were found in the blood of driver Hugo Morris, 18, but the hearing was told it would have had no effect on his cognition.

A Snapchat video posted by Wilf before the crash showed all boys were wearing seatbelts with Hugo driving, Jevon the front seat passenger, Harvey behind Hugo and Wilf behind Jevon. Post mortem examinations on all four boys were carried out and ruled their medical causes of death was drowning.

The alarm was raised on Sunday afternoon when the boys' families failed to hear from them - and a huge search involving police, Coastguard and mountain rescue teams was launched. The silver Ford Fiesta was discovered in the village of Garreg, near Porthmadog, around 80 miles from their homes in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. In a tribute, Hugo's family said he was "a giver of warmth, joy and mirth."

They added: "He rarely criticised others and loved he could sense people's emotions and connect with these. He had fallen in love with North Wales. His mum helped him pack the car. He was happy and looking forward to the weekend. The is shattered, bent and crooked now."

Melanie Hirst, mother of 16-year-old Jevon, said: "Jevon liked to socialise with his friends. He was a very loving son. He loved the outdoors and going walking. He was very close to his grandfather and loved to visit him in Harlech."

Harvey's family said: "Harvey was charismatic and carefree. He had everything to live for. He was a trendsetter, unique and an old soul. He was wise beyond his years. He was a chef at a local pizzeria." And Wilf's mother Heather Sanderson told the hearing in a statement: "The boys stayed in Harlech with Jevon's grandad. He messaged me to say he had enjoyed a full English breakfast.

"He was such good company with a sense of humour. We were blessed to have him in our lives for 17 years. We are proud to be his family."

The inquest, at Caernarfon Coroner's Court, continues.