An accident blackspot which was the site of 11 serious accidents in two years claimed the life of a teenager, an inquest has heard

Nineteen-year-old Shane Baker died after the car he was travelling in was involved in a crash with another vehicle at a junction, near Market Bosworth.

The hearing at Loughborough Magistrates' Court yesterday heard that Mr Baker, of Barlestone, suffered a head injury when his friend, and the driver of the car, Reece Luke, 18, pulled into the path of an oncoming Rover 75.

The horrific crash happened at about 7pm on December 13 last year. Mr Baker died two days later in Leicester Royal Infirmary.

Police accident investigator Pc Alan Moore said the accident happened as Mr Luke tried to turn right off the A447 at the Bull in the Oak crossroads to go towards Market Bosworth. During the manoeuvre, they collided with the Rover which had been heading north towards Ibstock.

Pc Moore said that motorists believed the junction had become dangerous and confusing after Leicestershire County Council introduced give way signs on its slip roads in August 2006.

He told the court there had been two fatalities there in 1999 but neither accident involved a right turn manoeuvre such as the one Mr Luke attempted.

There were no accidents in 2000 and one a year between 2001 and 2005. Then, after the road changes, in 2006 there were five collisions and six last year.

He said: "While the junction conformed to national guidelines, there are occasions where drivers felt it could be confusing.

"It's fair to say the change perpetuated the collisions with vehicles turning right."

Pc Moore said the council was planning to change the road lay-out again before Mr Baker's death.

The give way lines were subsequently removed.

Mr Luke, of Sheepy Parva, declined to answer questions on the advice of his solicitor as he is facing a careless driving charge related to the crash.

However, in police interviews he said he had checked the road ahead before starting the turn in his Mini Cooper.

He told police: "I did check the road or I imagine I did check. I would say I am a safe driver.

"I have no points and I am not a risk-taker. I would not push it just to show off or anything."

Another of Mr Baker's friends, Liam Hemingway, was a front seat passenger.

He told the inquest: "Reece started the manoeuvre. He thought it was clear and pulled out.

"That's the last I remember. I remember seeing headlights and that's it."

Rover driver Paul Statham told the court: "As I drove level with the junction, I saw a blue flash and it was instant impact."

He said the next thing he remembered was coming round in his car before going to try to help the boys in the mini.

Assistant deputy coroner Olivier Davison recorded a verdict of accidental death.