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Quad bike girl's unlawful killing Quad bike girl's unlawful killing
(about 2 hours later)
A teenager was unlawfully killed after losing control and crashing the quad bike she was on, a coroner has ruled.A teenager was unlawfully killed after losing control and crashing the quad bike she was on, a coroner has ruled.
Nia Jones, 17, from Ystradgynlais, Swansea Valley, had been riding the bike with a passenger when she crashed into a ravine near Brecon, Powys.Nia Jones, 17, from Ystradgynlais, Swansea Valley, had been riding the bike with a passenger when she crashed into a ravine near Brecon, Powys.
She sustained fatal injuries in the crash in June 2006 and her pillion passenger was badly injured.She sustained fatal injuries in the crash in June 2006 and her pillion passenger was badly injured.
Coroner Geraint Williams, sitting in Brecon, said the owner of the bike had failed to maintain it properly.Coroner Geraint Williams, sitting in Brecon, said the owner of the bike had failed to maintain it properly.
He heard how the owner of the bike, Daniel Paul, also from Ystradgynlais, had bought the bike a day before.He heard how the owner of the bike, Daniel Paul, also from Ystradgynlais, had bought the bike a day before.
He had not tested the bike before he bought it and had had to carry out a repair before it would start.He had not tested the bike before he bought it and had had to carry out a repair before it would start.
Nia didn't scream or swerve or make any sudden movements Martin ShackleNia didn't scream or swerve or make any sudden movements Martin Shackle
Following the work, he rode the bike and found that the steering was "over-sensitive," the coroner heard. During the inquest he denied there was anything wrong with the brakes.Following the work, he rode the bike and found that the steering was "over-sensitive," the coroner heard. During the inquest he denied there was anything wrong with the brakes.
He then went for a one-night camping trip with Nia and other friends, taking the quad bike, a scrambler bike and a mini-motor.He then went for a one-night camping trip with Nia and other friends, taking the quad bike, a scrambler bike and a mini-motor.
During the course of the evening, the group took turns to ride the bikes, including Nia.During the course of the evening, the group took turns to ride the bikes, including Nia.
"I showed her where the brakes were and the general steering and I was on the back of it the first few times to make sure she was ok," said Mr Paul."I showed her where the brakes were and the general steering and I was on the back of it the first few times to make sure she was ok," said Mr Paul.
Nia took several turns on the bike and on one of those occasions, was carrying Martin Shackell as a passenger.Nia took several turns on the bike and on one of those occasions, was carrying Martin Shackell as a passenger.
In a statement read to the court, the coroner heard how Mr Shackell had been asked by Nia to help her with the brakes and he leaned over and helped her apply them.In a statement read to the court, the coroner heard how Mr Shackell had been asked by Nia to help her with the brakes and he leaned over and helped her apply them.
Later that evening on another trip with Mr Shackell as a passenger, he said how he had asked her to reduce her speed.Later that evening on another trip with Mr Shackell as a passenger, he said how he had asked her to reduce her speed.
"I began to feel uncomfortable, she was driving too quick and I asked her to slow down," he said."I began to feel uncomfortable, she was driving too quick and I asked her to slow down," he said.
Rocky gullyRocky gully
"She came to a stop and I asked her to let me be the driver but she said no and promised to go slower."She came to a stop and I asked her to let me be the driver but she said no and promised to go slower.
"We pulled away again and she was going a lot slower then for some reason it left the road."We pulled away again and she was going a lot slower then for some reason it left the road.
"As far as I am aware I felt relaxed then suddenly I ended up down a rocky gully."As far as I am aware I felt relaxed then suddenly I ended up down a rocky gully.
"Nia didn't scream or swerve or make any sudden movements."Nia didn't scream or swerve or make any sudden movements.
"There was no time to realise what was happening.""There was no time to realise what was happening."
The inquest heard how Nia died from multiple injuries sustained in the crash.The inquest heard how Nia died from multiple injuries sustained in the crash.
A police examination of the quad bike showed the brake pads to be "very worn" and the rear brake didn't work, although no steering defect was found. A police examination of the quad bike showed the brake pads to be "very worn" and the rear brake did not work, although no steering defect was found.
The coroner told the court that although the Crown Prosecution Service did not feel the evidence supported a prosecution, he felt Mr Paul had a duty of care to Nia which had been breached in the lack of maintenance of the bike leading to her death.The coroner told the court that although the Crown Prosecution Service did not feel the evidence supported a prosecution, he felt Mr Paul had a duty of care to Nia which had been breached in the lack of maintenance of the bike leading to her death.
He said he felt the consequences of the breach was so gross it could merit a criminal sanction and he returned a verdict of unlawful killing.He said he felt the consequences of the breach was so gross it could merit a criminal sanction and he returned a verdict of unlawful killing.
After the hearing, Nia's family issued a statement describing her as "beautiful, vibrant and a fun-loving girl who loved life so much."After the hearing, Nia's family issued a statement describing her as "beautiful, vibrant and a fun-loving girl who loved life so much."