'Amazing' Essex teacher killed after BMW ‘exceeding 100mph’ ploughed onto roundabout
An inquest has heard Steven Tibbitt and his friends had been out playing golf and having something to eat before the speeding BMW hit their car
An “amazing” Essex teacher died after suffering “absolutely devastating” injuries in a crash with a car speeding at more than 100mph, an inquest has heard.
Steven Tibbitt, 54, who taught at Fitzwimarc School in Rayleigh, died in the crash in March last year at the junction with the A12 and B1007, near Galleywood, just outside Chelmsford.
An inquest that concluded at Essex Coroner’s Court today heard that Mr Tibbitt and his friends were in a Ford Mondeo, and 34-year-old John Kerrigan was driving a BMW when the two vehicles crashed south of Chelmsford on March 23 last year.
Mr Kerrigan also died the scene.
Area coroner Michelle Brown told the hearing: “The BMW went onto the roundabout at a speed exceeding 100mph, he was driving at greatly elevated speeds and did not come to a stop at the roundabout.
“Mr Tibbitt and his friends had been out playing golf and having something to eat, it was a perfectly normal day. There is nothing to indicate any wrong doing from the driver of the Ford, that Mr Tibbett was a passenger in.
“It’s likely there would have been a prosecution of the BMW driver. The other passengers in the Ford were unconscious and suffered various injuries.”
The court was told the Ford stopped on the roundabout, after being thrown into a spin, while the BMW stopped about 30 metres from the junction.
Both men were thrown out of the vehicles.
The coroner said Mr Tibbitt’s injuries were “incompatible with sustainable life.”
Heartfelt tributes, including balloons and flowers were left on the A12 slip road 16 following the fatal crash.
At the time of his death, the school described the maths teacher as “a much-loved, supportive and committed colleague.”
The coroner recorded Mr Tibbitt died due to significant body disruption and a conclusion of road traffic collision.
A separate inquest into the death of Mr Kerrigan will be held at a later date.