A TEENAGE driver has walked out of court with a community order having caused the deaths of a young girl and a pensioner in a road crash - two weeks after passing his test.

Kiri Jade Hodgkinson was 14 years old and died at the scene of the horrific crash, having been a front seat passenger in a Renault Clio which lost control on a bend.

The car, which was being driven by 18-year-old Jack Powell, crossed the carriageway and collided with a Renault Megane travelling the opposite way.

Inside was 67-year-old Douglas Ford who was driving the car while his wife Barbara, who was the same age, was in the passenger seat.

Mr Ford, from Brading, suffered minor injuries but his wife sustained serious injuries and died in the early hours of the following day.

The crash happened on the Isle of Wight just after 3pm on January 2 this year and left Powell, from Sandown, needing to be airlifted from the scene to Southampton General Hospital where he was treated for life threatening injuries from which he has now recovered.

A 13-year-old girl had been sat on the back seat of Powell's car and was also airlifted to Southampton General Hospital after breaking both legs and her ankle.

An investigation by Hampshire police found it was extremely unlikely Mr Ford would have been able to have avoided the collision with the Clio, because it suddenly appeared in front of him and in his pathway, giving him little or no opportunity to react or take avoiding action.

Powell was charged with two counts of causing death by careless driving which he admitted at a previous hearing.

Today magistrates handed him a 12 month Community Order with 250 hours unpaid work. He was also given a nine month curfew and a five year disqualification from driving, with an order to have an extended retest before being allowed a return to driving.

Sergeant Rob Heard, deputy senior investigating officer for Operation Mohite, said: “This is a tragic case which has brought about the untimely and sudden loss of two people and serious injuries to three others.

“Jack Powell had passed his driving test just two weeks before this collision, and this case highlights the dangers that young and new drivers face when first taking to the roads independently.

“Young drivers need to be aware that just because they have passed a driving test does not mean that they are fully experienced drivers. Experience is gained every time we take to the road and never stops, we are all learning and developing our driving skills every day we drive on our roads.

“There are many courses available to help new drivers to develop their skills and I would urge young drivers to undertake additional training after passing their tests whenever possible.

“Our thoughts and best wishes go out to the families and friends of all concerned, as this tragic incident has affected many people.”