A SLUG was blamed for causing a short circuit in a set of traffic lights where a fatal accident occurred, claiming the life of a young Midland driver.

Katie Dagley, aged 19, died in the head-on crash on a traffic-light controlled bridge near Tamworth last August.

Today, Katie’s devastated mum Julie paid tribute to her “bubbly, lively” daughter.

“Her death has left a great big hole in our lives that will never be filled,” said the 49-year-old carer.

“She was such a happy-go-lucky person, always laughing, and she would do anything for anyone. I can’t believe she’s gone. It’s every mother’s worst nightmare.”

An inquest on the death was held in Coventry.

The court heard that the former Polesworth High pupil, of Warton, near Tamworth, died from her injuries after her Ford Ka was in a collision with a Fiat Punto on the single-lane bridge on Shuttington Road, Alvecote, on August 4.

The Punto was driven by 18-year-old James Cope who told the court he had been driving home from working at the Wolferstan Arms, Shuttington. As I crossed the bridge, I did see headlights but I continued driving, not thinking the car was going to come onto the bridge at the same time,” he said.

“As I came off the bridge, that’s when the collision happened. I did not brake, I did not have time to brake.”