Girl died as sledge hit fence at 60mph
OXBRIDGE-bound teenager Francesca Anobile died from horrific head injuries after her makeshift metal sledge hit a wire fence at 60mph.
She was speeding down a snow-covered hillside with four college friends sitting on part of a Land Rover roof.
But it ran out of control and Francesca, 16, bore the brunt of the impact as the toboggan flew through the razor-sharp wire installed to stop sheep escaping.
In recording a verdict of accidental death at her inquest in Rotherham yesterday, the coroner said the slope should be closed to the public or the fence removed.
Francesca, who had 15 A-grade GCSEs, died from a brain haemorrhage.
Student Laura Ryalls, 18, told how the friends hauled the roof to the top of the hill at Rother Valley Country Park, South Yorks, after heavy snow on February 3.
In a statement Laura said: “We hit the wire fence and we seemed to go through it.”
Crash investigators estimated the speed may have reached up to 60mph.