Tragic Crash Claims Lives of Two Young Men
Two twenty-year-old men lost their lives in a devastating car crash on the Isle of Wight after the heavily modified vehicle they were travelling in, which had its airbags removed, spun out of control. Owen Bartlett and Taylor Antwiss died at the scene of the collision, which occurred on January 11, 2022, in East Cowes.
The inquest heard that Mr Bartlett was driving a Honda Civic that was travelling at a speed 'potentially over 80mph' in a 50mph zone. The car lost control on a right-hand bend and collided with a Toyota van driven by Steven Miller.
'Catastrophic Damage' and Coroner's Findings
Coroner Caroline Sumeray told the hearing that the Civic sustained 'catastrophic damage' and described photographs from the scene as 'among the most upsetting' she had ever encountered in her career.
Forensic collision investigator Laura Bailey provided evidence that the car had been 'modified both inside and out'. These modifications included aftermarket seats and a steering wheel, and critically, the factory-fitted airbags had been taken out.
While the coroner stated that 'it was not a sensible decision to remove them', she concluded that given the extreme forces involved, the presence of airbags likely would not have altered the tragic outcome in this specific incident.
Impact on Families and Tribute to Victims
The court was told that the families of both young men chose not to attend the proceedings and were represented by police liaison officers instead.
Following the tragedy, heartfelt tributes were paid to the pair, described as a 'well-loved' duo. Mr Antwiss's family remembered him as a loving, caring, and kind son and brother. Mr Bartlett's family said he was an 'amazing, kind, gentle, funny boy' who would be deeply missed every day.
The coroner confirmed that the van driver, Steven Miller, was in no way at fault for the collision. Mr Miller, who suffered minor injuries, stated that he could do nothing but brace for impact. His vehicle's airbags deployed as designed during the crash.
A post-mortem examination established that Owen Bartlett died from severe traumatic chest and abdominal injuries, and Taylor Antwiss succumbed to multiple traumatic injuries.
