Thetford teen crash victim may have been distraced by TikTok

Salvador Modke died when he was just 15 after being struck by a car on London Road in Thetford.

An inquest into his death heard that shortly before the incident on May 13, he was walking along the road with his phone held to his ear.

He then stepped off the pavement and directly into the path of a Toyota Ioniq driven by Adam Couch, who told the court he had no time to react. 

Despite the efforts of paramedics, Salvador died at the scene.

In a forensic crash investigation report, Norfolk Constabulary's Lee Smart said there was evidence Salvador had been using his phone to either listen to music or access social media platform TikTok in the moments before the crash.

Giving evidence in court, Mr Couch said the teenager "gave no indication he was wanting to cross" as he saw him walking on the pavement in the same direction he was travelling.

He added he saw "a blur" moments after his partner let out a gasp - but that it was too late for him to avoid the collision.

He said: "I did not have any chance to brake. As I looked back I saw somebody lying in the road.

"I never saw him enter the road."

Speed limit confusion

At the time of the collision, it is estimated Mr Couch was driving between 37 and 40mph.

In February, three months before the crash, the speed limit of the road was reduced to 30mph from 40mph.

However, at the time the change was made, Mr Couch was away on a training course in Norway, with this occasion being the first time he had used the stretch of road since returning.

He told the court: "It was my honest belief that the road was 40mph."

Coroner's safety concerns

Jacqueline Lake, senior coroner for Norfolk, concluded that Salvador had died as a result of a road traffic collision.

But she went on to raise concerns about the safety of the road and has called for improvements to be made.

She said she would be writing to the highways team at County Hall and urging them to consider putting more measures in place to make the crossing more visible to motorists.

She said: "I have heard evidence that although there are pedestrian barriers and tactile pavements on this stretch of road, there are no additional facilities for pedestrians and no signs on the approach to the crossing to alert drivers.

"I will be writing to Norfolk County Council about my concerns about that crossing."

Love of music

During the inquest, Salvador's parents remembered their son for his love of music, talent for Japanese cooking and piano ability

In a statement read to the court, they said: "He was our only born son and having him was so wonderful that it inspired us to become foster parents and adopt.

"He reached the top five percent in the country in his Year Six SATs and we were both very proud of that achievement.

"He was always creative and would have a go at turning his hand to anything."

They added that Salvador achieved grade five in the piano and from the age of 14 managed to secure an apprenticeship at a music label.

They added: "He had an eclectic taste in music from hip hop to grime and Latin.

"We still listen to the beats he had made now.

"The pain we feel having lost him is devastating and indescribable."

Following his death, tributes were led by Peter Collins, the bishop of East Anglia.