A POPULAR man killed in a horrific crash near Norwich was travelling at a minimum speed of 76mph in a 50mph limit, an inquest heard.Matthew Jones, 24, died when his car tipped over and crashed into a garden wall on the A1151 in Rackheath on Good Friday, April 10.

A POPULAR man killed in a horrific crash near Norwich was travelling at a minimum speed of 76mph in a 50mph limit, an inquest heard.

Matthew Jones, 24, died when his car tipped over and crashed into a garden wall on the A1151 in Rackheath on Good Friday, April 10.

Mr Jones, who lived with his family and girlfriend in The Green, Stalham, was on his way to an early shift at Norwich International Airport where he had worked as an apron handler for two years.

A Norwich inquest was told on Friday that Mr Jones' silver Lexus IS 300 was travelling at a minimum speed of 76mph when it crashed close to the Green Man public house at about 5.10am.

Pc Simon Hall said the car hit a kerb as it approached a bend and was thrown sideways across the road, smashing through garden fences and hedges, with its roof ending up embedded in one woman's bedroom.

Mr Hall said that Judith Bell, who lives in the bungalow, was extremely lucky not to have been injured by falling masonry, with several feet of rubble ending up on her bed.

A post mortem examination was carried out and the cause of death was given as severe head injury due to multiple injuries. Deputy Norfolk Coroner Jacqueline Lake recorded a verdict of death due to a road traffic collision.

Earlier, Mrs Bell, who lives in Wroxham Road, said she had been awoken just after 5am by an almighty bang.

She said: “I was sleeping in my bedroom and something hit me on my head. I could feel rubble on the bed and eventually there was 2ft of rubble on the bed. At first I did not realise that a car had caused the damage.”

Colin Yaxley, who also lives in Wroxham Road, said he was awoken by a screech and then a very loud bang. Both of them rang emergency services.

Pc Keith Brown, from Acle traffic police, who was on duty that morning, said he arrived on scene to find the car lying on its side with the roof against Mrs Bell's wall, which was badly knocked in.

Mrs Lake read out a statement from Adele Jones, Matthew's mother, in which she said that he had grown up in Stalham, and attended Sutton First and then Stalham Middle and High schools.

She said his main hobby was cars and he was a confident and careful driver. She said he had left home that morning at about 4.45am and was due to start work at 5.45am.

A statement released on behalf of the Jones' family by Matthew's sister, Hannah Redding, who attended the inquest, said: “Matthew was at a good place in life, looking forward to the summer, the warm weather and his future.

“He was on his way to the job he loved. He had plans and he was happy. We will never get over his loss. He was ours for 24 short years and we will always be grateful for having shared that time with him.

“We'll remember him as he always was: wearing his cap, baggy jeans and the sort of easy smile that you couldn't help but smile back at. We all love him very much.”

As reported, dozens of flowers, poems and tributes were placed at the accident spot following the tragedy.

Matthew had three sisters, Bryonie Jones, Lowri Norris and Hannah Redding and two brothers Alex Jones and James Jones. He was also very close to his dad David.