Teen drowned after ex-lover reached across to kiss her and plunged car into river

Katie Bagwell was trapped in the car as it began to sink after it careered into the River Parrett

Drowned: Emergency services rushed to the scene but Katie could not be saved

A teenager died when her ex-boyfriend drove into a river after he reached across to give her a kiss.
Katie Bagwell, 19, was a passenger when Craig Chant moved towards her but lost control of the Fiat Punto he was driving on the way home from a pub.
Chant, 21, and another passenger managed to scramble out of the car once it hit the water, but graphic designer Katie became trapped as the car sank in the River Parrett in Somerset.
Despite frantic efforts to save her, Katie drowned.
At Taunton Crown Court today heard how Chant, who admitted causing death by careless driving while under the influence of alcohol, blamed the accident on a "moment of inattention".
The accident happened at around 2am last October and the judge said the tragic events will stay with both Katie's family and Chant for the rest of their lives.



Chant was jailed for 21 months and banned from driving for four years.

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Heartbreaking: Katie became trapped when the car veered into the river

Following the death, a tribute page, named 'In Loving Memory of', set up by Katie Ann's sister describes the teen as "talented and kind".
One message read: "We are absolutely devastated and there will never a day that goes by where we don't think about Katie.
"Our lives will never be the same again."
Laurie MacBean added: "Such sad news. Such a sweet and beautiful girl so talented and kind. Thoughts are with her family and those who loved her. We will never forget her.xx"
Caz Maybelle Hewlett said: "I am so so sorry to hear of your loss, such a young beautiful girl.
"My daughter was her friend and I can only offer my sincere condolences, all my thoughts at such a sad time to all of Katie's family & friends.
"Another angel taken too soon xxx"
Katie, who undertook a graphic design course at college, had started an internship at Honey Tree Publishing, in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, just three weeks before.
The firm's boss Sebastian Galbraith-Helps described her as "magnificent" and "divine".

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Loved: Tribute pages praised the 19-year-old

He said: "She had embarked on an internship with us just three weeks ago.
"It was her personality, attitude and her design skills that attracted her to her because as a premium bespoke stationary company we needed somebody who was creative and that was very much her background and her qualifications.
"She was with us less than three weeks and she was magnificent, absolutely divine really."
Co-worker Trudy Strode said: "I haven't known her for long, but will miss her terribly.
"Work won't be the same.
"My thoughts are with her family and friends.
"Rest in Peace Katie xx"
Tony Holliss, 65, owner of the nearby Wheelhouse Bed & Breakfast, said the river was "not that deep".
He said: "It's a mystery to us.
"My wife and I went down there at around 10.15pm that night and everything was fine then, there was nothing untoward.
"The river is not that deep really, we actually control it from our sluice gates, I wouldn't think it was deep at all."