Teen who died after jumping from cab was drunk, inquest told

A Tasmanian teenager who died after jumping from a moving taxi was drunk at the time, an inquest has been told.

Jayden Field, 19, had been drinking with three friends in Hobart before the group caught a taxi south to Blackman's Bay in November 2013.

The court heard that when the cab reached Kingston, Mr Field's three friends got out.

Less than a minute later Mr Field jumped out in Jindabyne Road while the taxi was travelling at between 41 and 48 kilometres per hour.

He hit the road and footpath, sustaining head injuries from which he later died.

The court heard all four friends were intoxicated.

Counsel assisting the coroner Genny Hickman told the court the inquest would examine the circumstances surrounding how the boys left the taxi; whether the taxi slowed down beforehand and whether the driver accelerated when Mr Field jumped out.

The court also heard from David Nicholls, who lives on Jindabyne Road and was the first person on the scene after the incident.

He told the inquest he saw Mr Field lying on the road and a very distressed taxi driver trying to use his two-way radio.

Mr Nicholls said one of the other passengers, Mr Field's friend Jack Beadnell, returned to the scene within minutes.

Mr Beadnell walked towards the taxi driver, pointing and saying something like: "This wouldn't have happen if you hadn't sped off", Mr Nicholls said.

"I felt Jack was very, very sure this taxi driver had injured his friend."

Mother tells inquest son was not a heavy drinker

Mr Field's mother Joanne also addressed the inquest, telling the court her son was a normal teenager.

"He was trying to work out where he wanted to be in life," she said.

Ms Field said her son did not drink very often and he only occasionally went out in Hobart at night.

She said on the night the boys went out, she had heard them talking about getting some wine.

The inquest was adjourned last year so the taxi driver, Lopez Kimbinga, could seek legal advice.