A TEENAGER was fatally hurt when a car she was a passenger in hit a tree while travelling in a convoy of young drivers, a court heard today (Mon). Jody Smith, 17, of Union Street, Holbeach, died from multiple injuries after the vehicle left the A151 at Wh

A TEENAGER was fatally hurt when a car she was a passenger in hit a tree while travelling in a convoy of young drivers, a court heard today (Mon).

Jody Smith, 17, of Union Street, Holbeach, died from multiple injuries after the vehicle left the A151 at Whaplode, Lincoln Crown Court heard.

The person at the wheel, Samuel Curson, 19, was allegedly driving too fast when he lost control on a left-hand bend and careered off the road.

The friends were in a convoy of young motorists driving to Holbeach when the crash occurred shortly before 9.30pm on January 30 last year.

Gordon Aspden, prosecuting, said: "At least five cars left Spalding together. Mr Curson's car was in the middle of the convoy, at least at the start."

A jury was told how other motorists using the A151 had cause to notice how the group were driving in the minutes before the tragedy.

They were travelling at "high speeds" and overtaking other vehicles in a "competitive manner" that worried other drivers, it was alleged.

Mr Aspden told the jury: "Whether it be racing, catch-me-up or showing off, it caused alarm or concern to other motorists that night."

Curson, of High Broadgate, Tydd St Giles, lost control of his car as he entered a 40mph-limit stretch of road just before Whaplode.

Mr Aspden said: "The vehicle suffered massive damage. The primary area of the impact was on the passenger side, where Jody Smith was sitting."

Miss Smith was taken to Boston's Pilgrim Hospital but later died from multiple injuries. Curson also suffered serious injuries in the crash.

The jury heard that when finally questioned by police two months later he told officers he had only a very limited recollection of the incident.

But Mr Aspden claimed Curson lost control of the vehicle and crashed because he was driving at high speed and in a "dangerous" manner.

He said: "He drove across the carriageway, across the road and into a tree. Without any other explanation, to do that was plainly dangerous."

Curson denies a charge of causing the death of Jody, who was his only passenger, by dangerous driving as a result of the tragedy.

The trial continues.