Questions raised at inquest into 18-year-old's death in St. Peter's Valley

Wednesday 25 May 2022

Questions have been raised at an inquest over the thoroughness of a police investigation into the death of a "cheeky, funny and likeable" teenager, who died three years ago when his jeep flipped onto its side in St. Peter’s Valley after hitting a low granite wall.

Aaron Banks died as a result of a severe head injury sustained during the accident, when his red Suzuki Jimny went onto its side and slid along the road into an approaching car.

It happened at around 16:20 on Saturday 2 March 2019 in St. Peter’s Valley on the stretch of main road between Tesson Mill and the junction with Mont Fallu.

Mr Banks was driving northwards, in the direction of the Vic in the Valley pub. 

He struck a low granite wall on his near side, which acted as a ramp, lifting the jeep into the air and turning it onto the driver’s side.

It then slid around 25m along the road before it hit a blue Ford Focus, riding up and then off the Ford’s bonnet.

The Focus had three males in it, all aged under 18. No one was injured in that car, which was not speeding and within its lane.

Seeing the Jimny sliding towards his car, the Focus’s driver had braked to almost a halt when the Suzuki hit it. 

Giving evidence at the inquest, forensic pathologist Dr Russell Delaney said that Mr Banks extensive head injuries meant he would have instantly lost consciousness, died quickly and been unaware of what had happened. 

Also giving evidence, Detective Constable Donna Hewlett, a forensic collision investigator, said that from her examination of the scene on the day, and reviewing all evidence, Mr Banks had not travelled at an excessive speed, and his driving had not been dangerous. 

He had no alcohol or drugs in his bloodstream, he was wearing his seatbelt, and the Jimny was found to be roadworthy, she added.

Representing Mr Banks’s family, Advocate David Steenson highlighted what he saw were inconsistencies in witness statements, and raised concerns that the police had not asked “obvious” questions and had overlooked details, which cast doubt on their narrative.

For instance, the lawyer questioned the adequacy of a statement given by the driver of a yellow English-registered car who had told police that Mr Banks’s jeep had “flipped into the air as she drove past”. 

Another witness statement had raised the possibility that Mr Banks had hit this yellow car, or had narrowly missed it, yet Advocate Steenson asked why the police had not checked if this car had any damage.

The driver of this vehicle had also told police that she had been lost and was using a satnav at the time of the accident. Advocate Steenson asked whether she could have hit Mr Banks, or forced him to manoeuvre away.

It was this and other concerns raised by the family that prompted the police to re-interview all witnesses last year, one reason why the inquest had been delayed.

Det Con Hewlett, whose job is to provide forensic evidence and remain separate from the police investigation, said she could not say why Mr Banks had hit the low granite wall, but all evidence she had seen suggested that he had not hit any car before striking the wall. 

She added that the low wall - which had been damaged in an earlier car accident, meaning that its previously vertical side had become angled - had acted as a ramp, lifting the Jimny in the air, which had then rolled onto its side.

Today, a representative of the Infrastructure Department, which has responsibility for the wall, will give evidence, as will the police officer in charge of the investigation.

After his tragic death, Mr Banks was described as "cheeky, funny and likeable" by those paying tribute. A motorsport enthusiast, he was also training to join the crew of the Jersey Lifeboat Association and was due to become their youngest recruit.