INQUESTS have been opened into the deaths of two young men who were passengers in a car which crashed in Okehampton in the week before Christmas.

Liam Shears, 18, from Chagford and Alfie Abbott, 20, from Kingsteignton near Newton Abbot, were both pronounced dead at the scene on the B3260, close to County Lanes Garden Centre, in the early hours of Tuesday, December 17.

Exeter Coroner’s Court heard during the morning of Friday, December 27, that Liam Shears was born in Exeter and lived in Crediton.

The young men were passengers in a blue MG ZS which had been travelling along the A30 then turned onto the B3260 towards Okehampton and crashed at around 3.15am. There were no other vehicles involved.

There were no witnesses but a member of the public came across the scene shortly afterwards and called the emergency services.

Liam, a tractor driver, was confirmed dead by the emergency services at 5.07am. The cause of death was given as head injuries.

The inquest heard that Alfie Abbott, a farm contractor, also died in the crash. He was confirmed dead at 4.02am and the cause of death was head injuries.

The inquest, held at County Hall in Exeter, was adjourned with a full inquest to take place at a later date.

The driver of the car, a 20-year-old man from Chagford, was arrested on suspicion of driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs and causing death by dangerous driving.

He was then dearrested and taken to hospital for treatment of his injuries. He has since been discharged and will attend a police interview in due course.

Liam played for Okehampton Rugby Club and a minute’s silence was held for him and Alfie at the pre-Christmas Okehampton v Tiverton match.