A SEDGLEY teenager had been drinking at a party prior to the high speed crash that claimed his life, an inquest heard.

Ryan Wainwright hit speeds of up to 88mph as he drove his father's BMW along Clarence Street, Upper Gornal, before losing control, hitting a kerb and flipping the vehicle on its roof at around 2am on May 19.

The 18-year-old - who had been drinking at a party before the crash - was taken to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital but despite the best efforts of medics, he died on May 22 after suffering a "catastrophic brain injury".

His three passengers were also injured and taken to hospital.

PC Justin Williams, forensic collision investigator, told the inquest that he believed the car was doing around 72mph in the 30mph zone at the point it hit the kerb.

He added that a toxicology report revealed Ryan, of Springfield Road, had 118mlgs of alcohol in 100mls of blood. The legal limit is 80mlgs.

Ryan's heartbroken mother, Marie Beddow, told the inquest her son - who worked in an RAC call centre - was a "wonderful, loving, caring, considerate lad" who "loved his life".

She said Ryan, who had passed his driving test last August, had driven the BMW before, adding: "I will say he was a good driver but obviously with these circumstances then it's up to your discretion.

"He was cautious but, like all lads I suppose, he liked speed.

After telling the inquest how much Ryan was missed by his family and friends, she said: "One moment of madness has caused such upset."

Senior Coroner Zafar Siddique concluded that Ryan had died as a result of the road traffic collision, adding: "Ryan was involved in a high velocity collision, he was travelling at excessive speed - up to 88mph - when he lost control.

"Sadly, it was perhaps Ryan's inexperience as a relatively new driver, speeding and also evidence he had been out socialising and drinking, which were all contributory factors to the impact and collision that took place."