An inquest has opened into the death of a 16-year-old from Bransholme who crashed his stepmother's car just days after another accident on his motorbike.

Matthew Powdrell died after crashing the Vauxhall Corsa along Meaux Road, near Wawne, just before 6am on Monday, October 20, last year.

Matthew was treated by paramedics, but they were unable to save him and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hull Coroner's Court heard Matthew had an accident on his 50cc motorbike on October 1, which left him with severe brain injuries.

Matthew was an inpatient at Hull Royal Infirmary after the first accident, but left on the morning of Sunday, October 19, against the wishes of the medical staff and his family.

His father, Christopher Powdrell, and stepmother Sharon Hobbs took him home to Whitehope Close in Bransholme.

They woke up the next morning to find Matthew had disappeared. His stepmother noticed her car keys were missing and the family were later informed of Matthew's car accident by police.

Dr Kenneth Shorrock, Home Office pathologist, said it was possible the injuries suffered as a result of the first accident could have affected Matthew's decision to take the car and control it properly.

He said: "Because of the first incident, the second injury was enough to tip the balance and cause his death."

David Jellinek, a consultant neurosurgeon from Sheffield, who was called as an independent witness, disagreed.

He said: "I think the injuries (sustained in the second incident) could well have been enough to cause Matthew's death."

Mr Powdrell said his son had completely changed after the motorbike accident.

He said: "He wasn't my son. You couldn't hold a conversation with him and there was no reasoning with him."

Mr Powdrell described how before the first accident, his son had spent six months working for him, fitting windows.

Matthew's family felt he was not sufficiently capable to make his own decisions and were desperate for him not to leave the hospital.

Tiernan Byrnes, specialist registrar in neurosurgery, who was on duty at Hull Royal Infirmary on the day Matthew discharged himself, October 19, said he had found the teenager to be capable of making his own decisions, even if they differed from those of medical staff and his family.

He said he therefore could not force Matthew to remain at the hospital. The inquest continues.