Horrific Video Shows Kyle Careford's And Michael Owen's Final Moments Before Fatal Car Crash

Video Of Friends Who Filmed Their Own Deaths Released As Warning To Others
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WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

A shocking video has been released of the final moments of two young men, apparently high on drugs, who died after their speeding car - travelling at 90mph - crashed into a church wall.

Unlicensed and uninsured driver Kyle Careford, 20, and his friend Michael Owen, 21, died instantly when the red Renault Clio they were in overturned in Crowborough in April.

Michael had been videoing their journey as they sped at 90mph through the Sussex countryside, Sussex Police said. The video was retrieved from Michael's phone which was found under a tree at the crash scene the next morning.

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Kyle Careford

The video, the release of which has been supported by the men's families, shows the pair laughing and singing as they travelled through the countryside.

The recording abruptly stops when the vehicle careers off the road, smashing through a wall into the grounds of St Michael and All Saints church.

The vehicle was owned by Michael, who was sitting in the passenger seat. Both men, from Royal Tunbridge Wells, were wearing seat belts.

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Michael Owen

The footage was shown at an inquest into their deaths in Hastings on Tuesday (October 6).

The inquest was told that the pair had both taken a cocktail of prescribed and illegal drugs that would have resulted in severe toxicity and had a severely detrimental effect on Kyle's ability to control the car.

The coroner recorded a verdict of death by road traffic collision on both men.

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Michael Owen was filming in the car

Speaking after the inquest, Michael's mother Kat said: "We bring our children up teaching them right from wrong. We guide them and give them our advice and hope they listen, but once they are adults we hope they make the right choices.

"I really don't know why the boys chose to do what they did, but I blame them both for the decisions they made on this night.

"If all this stops one person from making the same mistake, then some good has come from showing this video. I'm hoping it will have an impact on young people and make them see that a bit of fun can have such devastating consequences.

"I would like all the young people out there to take notice and realise that you are not invincible and take seriously how precious your lives are to yourselves and others. I want young drivers to consider how much devastation it causes to the families and loved ones that are left behind.

"Watching the video was very upsetting, but I'm hoping it can be used in a positive way, by showing young people what could happen to them."

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The car was travelling at 90mph

Zac Hemming, Kyle's brother, said: "This footage or anything of its kind should never be recorded, let alone watched.

"However, despite the pain of it being broadcast by the media, we as a family just hope and pray that this will connect with at least one person out there, young or old, so that no-one ever has to experience the unthinkable pain of losing someone so close and dearly loved.

"May we now please let the boys rest in peace?"

Lauren Humble, Michael's ex-partner added: "This video was absolutely heartbreaking to watch but it did give us all of the answers that were needed.

"I know plenty of people who drive fast and I hope that this video will show people that driving like this can have devastating consequences and how short life can really be. You see car accidents on the news all of the time and you never think something like that would happen to you or your family.

"The Michael we saw on that video was not the Michael that we knew who was a loving, caring responsible daddy. The legacy that Michael has left is our beautiful daughter Lily-Rose who is 5-years-old, she will have to live with the impact of this horrific situation forever."