AN INQUEST has opened into the death of an 18-year-old girl following a crash in Ringwood.

Laionie Kennard, 18, died after a car that she was a passenger in left the road and sustained "extensive damage".

The incident, involving a blue BMW 1 Series, took place on Hurn Road, between Ringwood and Matchams.

Assistant coroner for Dorset Richard Middleton opened the inquest into her death at Bournemouth Town Hall on September 22.

Senior coroner officer Nikki Muller told the Dorset Coroner’s Court that ambulance and paramedics were called to a road traffic collision in Ringwood on September 16.

Emergency services arrived at the scene and Laionie was pronounced dead at 10.20pm.

Three other occupants of the car were taken to hospital, one with serious injuries and two sustaining minor injuries.

Mrs Muller added that Laionie, who was a compliance officer from Bingham Road, Verwood, was identified by her father, Mr D Kennard.

READ MORE: Family pay tribute to 18-year-old who died in crash

A postmortem examination was conducted by Dr Stolte on September 21 and determined Laionie’s provisional cause of death to be multiple head injury by road traffic collision.

The court heard that Dorset Police are continuing their investigations into the incident, and therefore a full inquest hearing can not yet be set.

Two men and a woman, all 18, were arrested on suspicion of driving offences but were later released under investigation while enquiries continue.

Mr Middleton set a pre-inquest hearing for February 8, 2024.

Police sergeant Mike Gatfield, of the roads policing team, previously said: “The thoughts of the investigation team and everyone at Dorset Police remain with the family and friends of Laionie Kennard.

“We are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the collision and I am appealing to any witnesses who have not already spoken to police, or anyone with relevant dashcam footage, to please come forward.

“We would ask that there is no speculation online about this very sad incident while officers continue their detailed enquiries.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email at scit@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55230147318.

Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.