Police tried desperately to save the life of a tragic teenager fatally injured in a horror crash along a main route, an inquest has heard.

Popular Ed Glover was travelling home to Canterbury from a cricket match in Bexley with two friends, when he lost control of his Ford KA in Roman Road, on the outskirts of the city.

An inquest in Maidstone today heard how the 18-year-old mounted a grass verge and hit a signpost, before colliding with an oncoming Ford Mondeo at the junction with the A2050 in Harbledown.

Two officers, who happened to be travelling through the area, passed by minutes later, by which time a crowd of nearby residents had already formed.

PC Mel Day told the hearing: “One of my colleagues cut Mr Glover free and removed him from the vehicle to do CPR.

“(They did it) for 30 to 40 minutes, before a doctor declared life extinct.

“One of the passengers stated that as they reached the end of Roman Road, Ed did not realise a turning was coming.”

PC Day noted Ed had been driving along the A2 late on July 13, before being “taken on an unexpected turn” by his Satnav through Roman Road.

The officer also said the former Simon Langton schoolboy, who had recently sat his A-levels, had only passed his driving test on May 21.

Motorist Adrian Mills was heading along the A2050’s eastbound carriageway between 55mph and 60mph when the KA veered in front of his Mondeo.

PC Day estimated that Mr Mills had less than a second to react, before smashing into the hatchback.

Forensic investigator Kirsten Heath, of Kent Police, added: “The KA partially mounted the verge and went onto the A2050 without stopping.

“There was insufficient time (for the Mondeo) to take action. A collision was unavoidable.

“Mr Glover had insufficient time to gauge the junction of the road. The KA’s speed was a contributory factor. He had limited driving experience, which may have also been a factor.

“Mr Glover failed to respond appropriately to the deviation in the road. The cause of the collision must therefore rest with the driver of the KA, Mr Glover.”

Paramedics arrived at the scene almost half-an-hour after the passing officers, at about 10.40pm.

They told the inquest that the teenager had suffered “extreme head injuries”, and was in “traumatic cardiac arrest” at the time. Ed was pronounced dead just after 11pm.

Toxicology examinations found no trace of alcohol or drugs in Ed’s system, while pathologists ascertained that he died from multiple injuries.

Area coroner Katrina Hepburn recorded his death as one of road-traffic collision.

Citing Ms Heath’s findings, she concluded: “There was inadequate steering initiated for the curve in the road, which meant that the Ford KA ran wide.

“It went onto the grass verge, colliding with a signpost.

“That impact was insufficient to stop the car and as it came out onto the main carriageway, and a crash occurred. The injuries Ed sustained at the scene proved to be fatal.”

Following the tragedy, a celebration of Ed's life was held at Polo Farm and attended by about 500 people who watched a slideshow, presented by his family, in which his passion for life and especially sport, notably cricket and tennis, was evident.

His “spiritual home” was Street End Cricket Club, and he was also dedicated to Canterbury and Bridge Tennis Clubs.

It was at the latter that he spent many hours rallying with rising tennis star Sadie Bristow, who tragically died in 2018, aged just nine, from a fatal allergic reaction.

The foundation set up by her parents in her name was one of the causes closest to Ed’s heart, and he took part in events in her memory.

His family said: “Ed was, by nature, a generous soul and demonstrated this in both small and big ways.

“From walking Ellie and Ella home after a night out, to undertaking a bike ride from Calais to Amsterdam, where he raised £200 to support a student’s education at Dr Obote college in Uganda.”

In 2019 Ed was shortlisted by the Kent County Lawn Tennis Association as ‘Young Person of the Year’ for his work coaching ‘tots to teens’, and also his commitment to the Sadie Bristow Foundation.

Many team mates and friends recalled anecdotes and memories about Ed, including Kevin Hopper, of Street End who said he “had a smile wherever he went”.

“Nothing was taken too seriously and he always volunteered to front up on the field, with bat or ball,”he said.

“He never realised how good he was. If he did, he was far too humble to boast about it.”

Ed was famed for his reverse sweep, as well as a ravenous appetite during match tea breaks.

Steve Martin recalled: “I remember providing one-to-one coaching sessions for Ed when he was around 14.

“It was clear to everyone how good a player he was going to be with the excellent hand-eye co-ordination.

“We tried to stop him trying to sweep or reverse sweep every ball and get him playing shots with a straight bat, but to no avail.

“He always had a cheeky grin on his face after he swept a ball he shouldn’t have - he couldn’t help himself.”

James Chamberlain added: “Ed embodied everything Street End Cricket Club is about.

“Watching him develop into a great young man both on and off the field was a privilege. I could not have been prouder when he hit his maiden hundred.”

In his own tribute to Ed, Langton head Ken Moffat called him an “archetypal Langtonian”.

“If I could have bottled him, I would,” he said.

“I could have wheeled him out in front of new parents and said ‘look – here’s one we made earlier – this is what we are trying to turn your son into’. He was kind, thoughtful and popular with everyone.

“When he wasn’t in the classroom or on the sports field, it was a fair bet that you would find him somewhere around the school canteen trying to persuade the kitchen staff to give him free food.

“He was one of the best of us and we will always miss him.”

Mr Moffat also awarded Ed his school colours – half colours for hockey, full colours for tennis, squash and cricket – which were accepted by his father, Julian.

There were many other tributes paid, including from friends at Canterbury Tennis Club, who said his death had “left a massive hole” and he would be sorely missed.

“Ed epitomised the club’s values and ethos,” they said.

“He was known for his infectious smile, his energy, his huge enthusiasm to play the game, no matter who it was against, whatever level or age they were.

“This attitude led to him getting involved as an assistant coach, where he was a fantastic role model to the younger children.”

All the tributes combined to honour a talented and generous young sportsman who had made many friends in his short life.

At the end of the occasion there was a two-minute silence, followed by a final tribute from his father, Julian, and a standing ovation for a young man who will clearly never be forgotten.