A teenager was killed in a car crash just minutes after telling friends that was how he wanted to die.

Zach O'Connor died when friend Joe Brady's car swerved off a dark country road and hit a tree.

The 17-year-old, who was in a rear seat, might not have been wearing his seatbelt, Hove Crown Court was told.

He died at the scene from serious head injuries after the car flipped onto its side and the roof was crushed by the tree.

Brady, who is now 18, had passed his driving test two weeks before the smash on April 4.

He had bought the four-year-old Ford Focus just days before the smash in Malthill Lane, Burgess Hill.

The friends were with other students from St Paul's Catholic College in Burgess Hill.

Olivia Peszynski, Nicky Chad and Brady survived the crash which claimed Zach's life.

Timothy Clark, prosecuting, said the teenagers were listening to music from an i-Pod connected to the car's CD system.

He said Zach made a "poignant comment" about a track by The Fray moments before he died.

Mr Clark added: "He said the song was one he wanted to drive to his death listening to.

"He said he could imagine himself on an open road driving at 120mph and crashing."

Mr Clark said Miss Chad was "screaming her lungs out" as the Focus was driven along the winding road at speed.

Miss Peszynski fought back tears as she recalled what Zach had said.

She told the jury: "He said he wanted to drive to his death to that song.

"I think he said something about driving into a wall but I can't remember if he said at how many miles per hour.

"It is a sad song and I told him to change it. I don't remember who changed it but it was changed."

She said they and other students had met earlier in a car park at The Emperor Chinese restaurant in Burgess Hill.

The group of four friends left at about 8pm to go for a drive in Brady's new car.

She added: "When we got in Joe made us all put our seat belts on.

"He said his mother had been in a car crash the week before and her seatbelt had saved her life."

Miss Peszynski said they drove towards Hurspierpoint College before driving back to Burgess Hill along Malthill Lane.

She said she was concerned that the car was going too fast because she was being moved around in her seat as it went around bends.

At one point Brady was forced to drive partly off the road as a car drove towards them on a bend.

She said: "Nicky did not like it at all and she screamed in a girly sort of way.

"That is when I thought we were driving too fast around the corners."

Miss Peszynski said the back of the car began to spin and the crash seemed to happen in slow motion.

She added: "The car flipped onto its side and everything went quiet.

"I shut my eyes and heard the car crash against the tree. It hit the tree at speed.

"I could hear Nicky screaming to get Zach off her and to get her out of the car."

She said Brady was suspended above her and was being kept in his seat by his seatbelt.

She stood up and moved aside to let him drop down inside the car.

Both escaped from the wreckage by climbing up through the driver's door above their heads.

They scrambled back to the road and flagged down a passing car while Miss Peszynski called police on a mobile phone.

They were taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital where she was told that Zach O'Connor had died.

Brady, of Mill Road, Burgess Hill, denies causing death by dangerous driving.

The trial continues.