A teenage driver, described by his family as a "charming" young man who would "always go out of his way to help others", died after losing control of his car on a bend near Newtown, an inquest has heard.

Owen Paul Bennett was 18 years old when he died from multiple head injuries sustained after his blue Ford Fiesta collided with a telegraph pole before flipping on its roof just outside Aberhafesp towards Newtown at around 4.45am on Monday, May 2 last year.

An inquest at Pontypridd Coroners' Court on Thursday (May 11) heard the crash happened because of "driver error" after the young Caersws carpenter "failed to negotiate the bend due to inappropriate speed which led to a loss of control".

A conclusion of death in a road traffic collision was recorded.

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Owen's mum Julie Latham paid tribute to her son calling him "always happy and cheerful" and someone who loved cars.

She added: "It was a shock to me and overwhelming because Owen was always a responsible driver.

"He was a charming young man who showed everyone he encountered respect."

Dyfed-Powys Police forensic collision investigator David Stacey told the inquest that Owen's car, which was "well maintained" with no defects, had lost control on a right-hand bend in a 40mph zone along the B4568.

County Times: The crash happened on the B4568 near AberhafespThe crash happened on the B4568 near Aberhafesp (Image: Google Street View)

The Ford Fiesta had flipped onto its roof following "significant" impact with a telegraph pole which then snapped and was dislodged from the ground causing "catastrophic" damage at the scene.

Mr Stacey explained: "It's speed. It's travelled over 50 metres out of control and hit a telegraph pole at high impact although I can't say what that speed was. There was no emergency braking prior to Owen travelling onto the grass verge. 

"This collision would have been over in two seconds, it was a very quick incident. The cause of it, I can't really say but the evidence shows that it was attributable to speed."

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The inquest also heard Owen, who was described by friends as his "happy and jokey self" who "didn't seem overly drunk" on the night of the crash, had been out drinking four bottles of VK in Newtown before going to McDonald's at around 4.15am.

A blood test found Owen was not driving illegally but he was just under the legal limit and a McDonald's meal "may have absorbed the alcohol rate".

One friend told the inquest that it was "completely out of character" for Owen to drive after drinking alcohol because he was "normally the one who gives people lifts".

What happens at an inquest and what can the press report?

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Here we will try and answer some of your questions about what will happen, what can be reported and why.

Concluding her findings, assistant coroner Rachel Knight said: "It is more likely than not Owen lost control of the car on a right-hand bend when he was travelling too fast for the bend.

"Toxicology tests showed he had been drinking alcohol albeit under the legal limit to drive."

Speaking to Owen's loved ones, the coroner expressed her "personal heartfelt condolences over the tragic loss of your boy.

“I’m sorry to have met you in such sad circumstances.”