The owner of a heavily modified car that was involved in a fatal road accident is being sued by her insurance company for not informing them of the modifications.

Anne Bissmire's Vauxhall Corsa was being driven by Daniel Bissmire, thought to be her son, when it crashed in Hadleigh, Essex in 2006, killing passenger, Charlie Morris, 26.

Insurance company, Diamond Insurance, is seeking a ruling from the High Court that it is not obliged to pay out on the insurance policy due to the modifications on the car.

They say the changes made to the car – including lowered suspension, an induction air filter, foot pedal covers, alloy wheels and a vent added to the bonnet to give greater air intake – changed the performance of the car and, thus, changed its insurance status.

Two other teenagers were also injured and Mr Bissmire suffered a fractured pelvis and ruptured spleen. He admitted causing death by dangerous driving before Basildon Crown Court in 2008 and was jailed for four years. He had been insured on the car for only a month and had been enticing drivers of other cars in convoy with him to race.

Diamond would not comment on the case specifically while it was ongoing, but spokesman James Carnduff said, “We would urge drivers to keep their insurance company informed of any modifications made to their vehicle as this could impact on whether the insurer would be able to cover the car or not.”

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