A TEENAGE learner driver died after he went out in a car on his own to pick up a friend, an inquest has heard.

Jordan Coppin, 18, from Eye, died after the red Rover 214 he was driving left the road at Yaxley and collided with a tree just after midnight on April 7 last year on Castleton Way.

Yesterday’s inquest heard it was not known what had caused the learner to crash and his mother, Anne, still did not know why he had taken the decision to go out in the car on his own.

After the crash Jordan, who went to Diss High School and lived in Magdalen Street, was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, where he died from a brain injury seven days after the accident.

Suffolk coroner Dr Peter Dean said Jordan’s mother “does not know why he decided to take the car on his own that night”.

His brother Adam had said Jordan seemed in a “happy mood” before he left to pick up his friend.

Dr Dean added that police were “unable to specify the cause of the collision itself” but it may have been caused because he was swerving to avoid something or had used the brakes inappropriately.

He added: “Jordan was a learner driver and had been taken formal driving lessons.

“It was clearly a tragic accident that took place.”

Dr Dean recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Jordan had just started a Sunday job at his local Co-op store and he also worked at Cornwallis Country Hotel in Brome.

A former pupil at Hartismere School, he attended the sixth form at Diss High School and was studying classics, sociology and psychology. He had hoped to become a primary school teacher.

After the inquest Ms Coppin said: “I am grateful for all the comments his friends have made about him on (social networking website) Facebook. I know he made an impact on all the people knew.

“We are still struggling with what happened.”