Three young friends were killed travelling home from a funeral when their car ‘split in half’ after hitting a bus, an inquest heard on Friday.
Driver Jesse Owen, 18, was over the legal drink-drive limit when he got behind the wheel of an Audi A1 carrying six people in total – even though the vehicle was designed to take a maximum of five.
Jesse was killed in the collision alongside champion kickboxer Callum Griffiths, 19, and Morgan Smith 18, who all died from blunt force injuries after he was seen driving at ‘very high speed’ in the car with personalised number plates and blacked out windows.
The collision happened in Coedely, near Tonyrefail, on December 11 last year.
The inquest heard the six had been to a funeral for the father of front seat passenger Ellis Williams before going on to a pub and a working man’s club where they drank three pints each.
Driver Jesse Owen, 18, was over the legal drink-drive limit when his car crashed into a bus, killing him and two friends, an inquest heard on Friday. They had been returning from a funeral
Up-and-coming boxer Callum Griffiths, 19, also died in the crash on December 11, 2023
Pictured: A map of the area where the horror crash occurred last December in south Wales
Survivor Ellis said in a statement that he remembered Jesse driving ‘fast’ before coming to a bend where they saw the bus coming straight towards them.
Ellis said: ‘I didn’t take much notice of what the boys were drinking, because it was my father’s funeral.
‘Jesse was going to drive us. He wasn’t going to come out with us as he had work in the morning.
‘They were big lads so they would have been sat on top of each other in the back.
‘I put my belt on, I don’t know if the boys in the back had their seatbelts on. I don’t know if Jesse was wearing a seatbelt. I didn’t take any notice.’
Ellis said: ‘I thought Jesse was going fast, but I didn’t worry. We went around the bend and I heard Sam say ‘woah woah’ before the bend.
‘I didn’t realise what was happening I looked to my right and I could see Jesse looked scared.
‘A car kicked out around the corner and Jesse tried to get back in.
‘We knew we were all going to hit the bus – I held the side door.
‘As we hit the bus Jesse’s side made the first contact with the bus. My airbag went off and I hit my head on it.
‘I looked to my right and nobody was sat next to me. I looked behind and none of the boys were there. The car was split in half it was in two parts.
‘I could hear people screaming. I didn’t see where anyone was thrown.’
In the statement to police Ellis told how he walked around the crash scene and saw his friends on the ground.
The inquest heard that before the crash Jesse had texted his mum to say his friends were going to Cardiff as he would not go out drinking because he had work the following day.
However the Pontypridd hearing was told a post-mortem examination found he had 113mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit being 80mg.
A barmaid said she served the group at least three drinks each.
The family of Callum Griffiths paid tribute to the world champion in kickboxing, who had also represented Wales in competitions all over the world
They had been in the car together on the way back from the funeral when it crashed with the Stagecoach bus at Coedely, near Tonyrefail, on December 11 last year.
In a statement, Jesse’s parents said he was a ‘careful and considerate’ driver who they did not think would have acted recklessly behind the wheel.
But witnesses said they were shocked at the speed of the Audi A1 as it travelled through the roads of South Wales Valleys moments before the crash.
Huw John said he was walking his dog when a friend pointed out the car saying: ‘Look at the f***ing speed that is travelling at’.
Mr John said he recognised the personalised plates of the car as it ‘flew past us’ as belonging to Jesse before it went out of site.
He added: ‘I remember thinking ‘Jesus Christ that car was driving too fast.”
Jesse’s father Justin said despite his son being a relatively new driver he was ‘experienced’ behind the wheel and competent.
He said: ‘We can honestly say he was a safe and careful, considerate driver. Living in a small community if he was driving anti-socially we would have heard about it.
‘If speed was a factor we would be surprised by that as Jesse was just not known for driving like that by us or anyone we know.
‘We trusted Jesse because we knew him as a person and we knew his character. He was a good person with a kind, generous heart and a loyal friend.’
He said that he knew Jesse and his friends were going to a wake, but Jesse ‘only ever drank occasionally and was not a big drinker.’
He added: ‘We do not feel he would have consumed anywhere near the legal limit of alcohol, because we spoke about drink driving and the dangers of it all his life.
‘He may have had one or two drinks but when Claire texted him after the service he said he was taking the boys to Cardiff, but he wasn’t drinking with them as he had work in the morning.’
The other two survivors were named as Sam Griffiths, 18, and Lucas Vaughan, 19.
Callum, of from Porth, died from a head injury at 8pm while Morgan, of Clydach Vale, died at 8.09m from injuries to the face and neck.
Driver Jesse, of Penygraid, died of injuries to the head and chest.
The hearing, in Pontypridd, continues.
In tributes issued through police, Jesse’s family said he had ‘a presence that would light up any room.’
They added: ‘He was loved by all who had the honour of knowing him. He was the most loving, happy kind, calm and beautiful soul.
‘He would do absolutely anything for anyone. He loved his family and friends and was loyal to the core.
‘Jesse loved his boxing, watches and socialising with friends.
‘He has left a huge void in all of our hearts and our lives will never be the same without him.
‘He will be sorely missed by his parents, grandparents, brothers and extended family.
‘We are all truly heartbroken.’
Morgan’s family described him as ‘a popular boy’ and a ‘well-loved son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin.’
They said: ‘Morgan was best known as a talented boxer previously gaining a Welsh title. He was an up-and-coming star with a promising boxing career ahead of him.
‘We as a family are devastated by the loss of Morgan, we have been left with a void that can never be filled We love you our boy.
‘We would like to thank all the emergency services that assisted at the scene.
‘Please could you respect our privacy whilst we grieve the loss of Morgan.’
Shortly after the tragedy, Morgan’s family gathered in the village of Coedely near Tonyrefail, just four miles from their homes in the Tonypandy area of Rhondda.
Speaking at the scene his aunt Amy Smith said: ‘At any time of year it would be be heartbreaking but more at this time of year.
‘We can’t celebrate Christmas this year. But we will be together and will try our best.’
She added: ‘He was a lovely caring boy liked by everybody. He didn’t have a bad word to say about anyone.’
The family of Callum Griffiths, 19, from Porth, his mum Natalie, dad Lee and Callum’s 15-year-old sister Erin, said: ‘Callum had the most beautiful smile that would light up the room. He was the most precious gift of a son and our love is endless.
‘Our hearts have been broken into a million pieces, broken beyond repair. He was so loving and had a caring soul. He has left a hole in our hearts that cannot be filled.
‘Callum was a world champion in Kickboxing and achieved numerous Gold medals and has represented Wales in different countries all over the world.
‘Callum qualified as a barber just over a year ago. He was a passionate, hard-working and a dedicated barber. And we are so very proud of him. We are proud of everything he’s achieved.
‘We love you ‘Champ’.
A joint statement issued by the teenager’s former schools at the time said: ‘The school communities of Porth Community School, Tonyrefail Community School and Ysgol Nantgwyn are completely devastated by the news that former pupils were involved in a fatal incident yesterday evening in Coedely.
‘Pupils and staff at from all our schools send their heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families of the former pupils who have died.’