Cliff Notes – Race Across the World star Sam Gardiner, 24, died after driving in appalling conditions
- Sam Gardiner, a contestant on the BBC reality show, died in a car crash while driving at high speeds in wet conditions, suffering a significant brain injury.
- The inquest revealed that Gardiner’s modified VW Golf was seen weaving through traffic shortly before the fatal incident on the A34 in Stockport.
- Investigators concluded that the combination of excessive speed and a slippery road surface, exacerbated by heavy rain, contributed to the tragic accident.
Race Across the World star Sam Gardiner, 24, died after driving in ‘appalling conditions’
The inquest into Sam Gardiner’s death has taken place in Stockport today after his tragic death.
24-year-old Race Across the World star Sam Gardiner died in a car crash after driving at ‘significant speeds’ in wet conditions, an inquest has heard.
Gardiner, who took part in the BBC reality show’s second edition in 2020, was driving an adapted VW Golf when he lost control of the vehicle and was killed in May last year.
An inquest, attended by members of his family, heard that, as a result of the crash on the A34 in Stockport, Gardiner suffered a significant brain injury.
Gardiner’s mum Jo, with whom he had competed with on Race Across the World, and his brother Charlie, listened as details of the crash were revealed.
A coroner said that the VW Golf car had been spotted ‘weaving in and out of traffic’ at a ‘significant estimated speed’ just moments before the crash happened.
In addition, investigators of the accident concluded that high speeds coupled with a wet road surface following heavy rain contributed to the devastating incident.
The inquest, which took place in Stockport, also heard that Gardiner had modified part of his VW Golf’s exhaust in order to make it noisier when in use.
Mum Jo said of her son, ‘As soon as he got [a car] he saw the next one he wanted, also adding that Gardiner had removed the silencer from his exhaust.