'The crash was an absolutely tragic incident with a lasting impact on his loved ones'

'Thrill-seeker' Tom tragically killed after BMW crashed at 133mph on the A34

- Thomas Cooper

FLORAL TRIBUTES: The scene of the fatal crash on the A34.

FUN-LOVING Tom Grindey lost his life after driving his BMW at 133mph on the A34.

The 21-year-old Stoke City season ticket holder had travelled from the Trentham Gardens roundabout to the Trentham Monkey Forest roundabout twice with his friend in the front passenger seat.

As he made the trip for the third time he collided with a Renault Clio which was overtaking another vehicle.

His BMW careered into a layby, onto a grass verge and into a wooded area. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

An inquest into his death at Stoke Civic Centre heard from Tom's friend, William Plant, who was a passenger in the BMW.

He told the hearing he could not believe how fast the car was when he went in it for the first time.

He described Tom - who worked as a car sprayer at Fast Lane Motors in Trentham - as a 'risk-taker and a thrill seeker.

He said: "He started to rag it and go really fast as he knew there were no speed cameras in this section. He went past the layby. I could see people had started to gather there.

"He seemed in control. Tom was still accelerating, I saw the Clio start to indicate. I thought, 'What is he going to do'? He turned the wheel to the right with both hands. The airbags went off. I did not come around until I saw blue flashing lights.

"Tom would never have wanted to put me in any danger. It was just the wrong place, wrong time. If I was to say who was to blame I would say Tom as he was going too fast. I do not think the driver of the Clio was to blame. He just loved the thrill of driving fast."