THE stepfather of a 19-year-old killed in a car crash at a notorious blackspot on Christmas Day has vowed to carry on fighting for improvements to the road.

Shane Vaughan's family were yesterday coming to terms with the likelihood it was speeding which caused him to lose control on the A4130 at Hadden Hill, near Didcot.

Mr Vaughan, a guttering fitter from South Moreton, was killed when his blue Ford Fiesta left the road and crashed into a field shortly after 10pm, on Christmas Day, 2006. He had been travelling to Didcot with his friend, Joseph Morris, 20, who survived the crash.

Coroner Dr Richard Whittington yesterday recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Pc Terry Anderson, a collision investigator from Bicester police, told the inquest Mr Vaughan had probably lost control because he was travelling at about 68mph.

The speed limit on the A4130 is 50mph.

He also said Mr Vaughan could have over-steered due to inattention, causing the car to leave the road.

The crash was the sixth fatal accident on the road, between the A34 and Wallingford, in four years.

Keith Arnold, Mr Vaughan's stepfather, said they would carry on the fight for safety improvements.

He said: "It has been very hard because we have had to try to draw a close to it. But now we just have to look for the next thing to move on to.

"Christmas just does not exist in our house any more. We will never have Christmas again.

"We want to emphasise the fact the police said there were two possible reasons Shane lost control, and we want to carry on fighting for more improvements."

Mr Morris, of Tamar Way, Didcot, told the inquest how he and Mr Vaughan had been to a skate park in the town, before travelling to Wallingford together, where they had stopped to chat.

It was on their return to Didcot that Mr Vaughan lost control of his car, which mounted the grass verge and struck a fence supported by concrete posts.

The car landed upside down in a field about 10 metres from the road. Mr Morris was able to climb out of the window, flagged down a passing motorist and alerted emergency services. He also made attempts to resuscitate his friend.

Dr Whittington said: "I feel very fortunate we are not holding a double inquest and that Mr Morris safely survived this horrific accident.

"I believe he did all he could by alerting the emergency services and a passing motorist, and trying to resuscitate his friend."

He told Mr Morris: "I can commend you for what you did and I am very pleased you survived this ghastly experience.

"Shane was driving rather faster than he should have been. He lost control and maybe he was going too fast."

Mr Vaughan's mother, Dawn Arnold, and other members of the family were too upset to comment.