A TEENAGE girl, who had only been driving her new car for five days, was killed when she lost control on a slippery country road near Amersham, an inquest heard.

Nineteeen-year-old Sarah Smith, of Primrose Hill, Widmer End, died when her silver Citroen Saxo VTR skidded on a wet corner of New Road, in Coleshill.

The car spun 180 degrees, rolled on its side and crashed into a large tree.

The court heard that on the night she died Miss Smith had been at The Plough pub, in Winchmore Hill, with her friends Christopher Howland, Helen Evans and Paul Phillips.

She took Mr Howland, from Flackwell Heath, out for a drive to show off her new car.

The pair left the pub just before 11pm on April 19, 2005, and drove along several country lanes.

Mr Phillips had arrived at The Plough around five minutes before Miss Smith left. He said: "She was a regular drinking buddy of mine but she always stayed on the Red Bull when she was driving. Her post-mortem examination showed no alcohol in her blood.

Mr Phillips added: "As she left I said to her keep it shiny side up', it was just something we said."

Mr Howland told Amersham Coroner's Court on Wednesday that Miss Smith was a good driver and had not done anything to make him concerned. He said: "I did not take much notice of her speed but I believe we were travelling safely.

"Sarah commented about the roads being wet just before the back end of the car started to slide. There was a loss of control."

Mr Howland said he does not remember the car rolling or the impact with the tree. He said: "I was then aware that the roof of the car was right down behind the back seat. Sarah was unconscious and having problems with her breathing."

PC Andrew Evans, the crash investigation officer, said the road side was wet because of an open spring in the area. PC Evans said: "There is no kerb edge, it is broken down. It was also wet, creating a slippery surface in this area."

He said it was likely Miss Smith felt the back end of her car sliding and tried to over compensate but lost control.

Richard Hulett, coroner for Buckinghamshire, recorded a verdict of accidental death.