A DRIVER whose car was involved in a fatal accident is being sued by her insurance company after she failed to tell them the vehicle had been souped up.

In a High Court writ, Diamond Insurance claims Anne Bissmire’s Vauxhall Corsa had a host of modifications it had not been made aware of, including lowered suspension and alloy wheels, when it was involved in the smash in London Road, Hadleigh, in 2006.

The car was being driven by Mrs Bissmire’s teenage relative Daniel Bissmire, thought to be her son.

Charlie Morris, 26, died after being flung through the car window and on to the Victoria House Corner roundabout, hitting the Bernard Braine clock.

Two other teenagers were also injured and Mr Bissmire suffered a fractured pelvis and ruptured spleen. He admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for four years at Basildon Crown Court in 2008.

The car had been insured just a month before the accident.

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

As well as the alloys and the lowered suspension, it is claimed the car had a vent added to the bonnet to give greater air intake, an induction air filter and a stainless steel unit on the exhaust silencer.

Other changes included extra lights, rear lamp clusters, foot pedal covers, gear lever knob, carpet mats, seat covers, multi-disc player and head unit.

Diamond is also seeking costs from Mrs Bissmore, of Sedgehill Road, London.

There is no suggestion that Mr Bissmire was not insured on the car. He had been driving back to his home in South London from Southend in a convoy of three cars when the crash happened.

But Basildon Crown Court heard the dad-of-one had been trying to entice the drivers of the other two cars into a race and was travelling at more than 60 miles an hour.

Diamond spokesman James Carnduff said it was not appropriate to comment on an ongoing case.

He added: “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.”