Ewan had taken a high-dose of ADHD medication before the crash
A teenager left a two-word note for his mum before driving at 95mph straight at a tree, an inquest heard. Ewan Seath, 19, died instantly after his car crashed on Alderholt Road in Somerley at around 8.50am on Monday, February 26, last year.
At an inquest at Winchester Coroners’ Court, forensic collision investigator Michael Toy said Ewan’s car had travelled in a straight line from the road towards the tree, and there had been no evidence of braking. He added: “I believe the speed was around 85mph to 95mph. In my view, it appears the vehicle was deliberately driven off the road at excess speed. No evasive action was taken.”
A note found in the vehicle simply said ‘Sorry Mum’. The inquest heard hw Ewan and a friend had spoken online before the crash. Ewan had sent a video on February 15 showing a car crashing into a tree. The day before he died he said to his friend: “Tomorrow seems like the day.”
When the friend sent a question mark in response, Ewan replied: “You know”, followed by another message just after midnight which said: “I wish it wasn’t this way.”
Another friend, Amelia, told the inquest she noticed Ewan had not been himself prior to his death, but “didn’t want to talk to anyone about it”. On the morning he died he sent her a message which said “I love you”, which was unusual. She told the hearing: “He never messaged something like that to me.”
Ewan, who was autistic, had not been taking his ADHD medication “for some time”, his mother said, after saying high doses over 11 years left him feeling “nothing”. She added he appeared “quite calm” and didn’t think he needed to go back on medication, but noticed in the week before his death he “wasn’t the usual Ewan”.
After his death she found messages on his computer following a review of his college work which she said “belittled and destroyed my son”, adding he had not spoken to her about it at the time, which was not unusual as his autism was “high masking”.
She said: “He was intelligent, capable, and had already achieved a great deal in his young life. He worked hard to overcome the challenges of living with ADHD and autism, and he did so with pride and determination in what he achieved. He had so many plans with his friends, looking forward to sharing experiences and making memories with them.”
She added those closest to him would remember his “humour, loyalty and the way he looked out for others”.
She added: “Ewan’s death has left an irreplaceable hole in our lives, we will carry him in our hearts, remember him for the wonderful son, brother and friend he was, and the bright future which was taken from him far too soon.”
A post-mortem examination revealed Ewan died of multiple injuries. Toxicology results also showed a “significant quantity” of ADHD medication in his blood. Forensic toxicologist Peter Streete said such levels would have increased the possibility of erratic behaviour and risk taking. He explained: “When too much is taken, the behaviour it is meant to prevent is actually enhanced.”
Coroner Jason Pegg concluded that Ewan took his own life, and said the messages to his friend and the note to his mother were “a clear indication” of his intentions.
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