A TEENAGER who had been driving for less than four months lost control on a notorious bend and collided with an oncoming car, killing the 86-year-old passenger.

An inquest heard that Andrew Sunderland, 17, was towing a twin axle trailer, and he had only passed the test allowing him to tow it the week before.

Mary Ellen Livesey, 86, a retired market trader, of Ingleborough Drive, Barnoldswick, died as a result of chest injuries she received in the collision on a bend on the A682 Long Preston Road, near Gisburn.

Her husband, Peter, said he was driving towards Long Preston and as he started into the bend saw a white van coming towards him. The van had one wheel over the white line. The wheels were pointed straight on and the van and trailer just kept coming towards him. "The van did not appear to attempt to take the bend at all," said Mr Livesey.

Mr Sunderland, of Lower Hay Farm, Keighley, who works for a farm machinery company, said he had touched the brakes and they seemed to lock.

Accident investigator PC David Aitcheson said that, at the 30-35mph Mr Sunderland claimed to have been doing, the van and trailer should have been able to negotiate the bend. It would seem the trailer had gone into a slide first and this would have caused the van to slide.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, assistant coroner Carolyn Singleton said the accident was the result of a combination of factors. The bend was severe, Mr Sunderland was a driver of limited experience and he was driving a large vehicle on an unfamiliar road.