‘I can’t remember anything of crash’

THE aftermath of the crash in Middleton Road, Chadderton, in which three people were killed. PIC: courtesy Press Association

Inquest opens into triple-death accident

THE sole survivor of a horrific car crash in which three people died told an inquest that she cannot remember anything about it.

Paul Bunting (30), Christopher Morrison (23) and mum-of-one Cassie Fox (19) died when the Vauxhall Vectra they were in crashed in Middleton Road, Chadderton.

The car had been pursued for two miles by a police officer before the crash in the early hours of Sunday, November 16, 2008.

Claire Matthews (20), from Moston, who was also in the car at the time of the crash, gave evidence on the first day of a four-day inquest at Oldham Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Following the smash, which saw the car hit a garden wall and flip on to its roof near the Broadway junction, she spent four weeks in hospital with life-threatening injuries to her head and body.

The mother-of-two said she had known her close friend Miss Fox, from Pitsford Road, Monsall, since primary school and saw each other every day.

She said the pair had been to Oldham Town Centre on nights out before and would normally get a taxi back home. But she said she did not remember travelling to Oldham that night, did not remember getting into the car or anything relating to the crash.

Speaking to a jury of six men and five women, she said: “If I could remember what happened, I would tell them.

“I would tell my mate’s family, I wouldn’t lie about it. I’m telling the truth.”

Marie Barton, Mr Bunting’s mother, told the court she had last seen her son 10 years ago.

She said Littleborough-born Mr Bunting had moved with his family as a baby to Doncaster, then to Leeds, and then to the Manchester area after being released from prison at 18, but she did not know his last address.

She said when she last spoke to him shortly before his death, he said he was on remand and was facing 15 years in prison for armed robbery.

Joseph Morrison, Mr Morrison’s father, from Throstle Hall Court, Middleton, said his son did not smoke or drink but was easily led.

Over the weekend of the crash, his son had been offered a job offer as a gym instructor that he had wanted.

Mr Morrison said he found out after the crash that his son had known Mr Bunting for only two weeks.

A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Bunting and Mr Morrison both suffered brain injuries caused by multiple skull fractures and died instantly.

Toxicology tests revealed Mr Bunting had cannabis in his system and levels of alcohol in his blood equivalent to about four pints.

Mr Morrison’s tests for alcohol and drugs were negative.

Consultant pathologist Dr Alan Padwell said Miss Fox had died from chest injuries and would have been unconscious soon after the crash.

Toxicology tests revealed alcohol levels in her blood just below the legal drink-driving limit, as well as cannabis and cocaine in her system.

Dr Padwell said: “All three were young, fit, healthy people.”

Miss Fox’s brother, James Fox, from Pitsford Road, Monsall, said he was aware of her use of cannabis but not of cocaine.

He said she was a popular, outgoing person who doted on her son.

He said there was no particular reason why she went to Oldham that night but he’d had no concerns for her that night.

He said she did not know Mr Bunting or Mr Morrison.

He added that the whole family had been devastated by her death.

Proceeding.