INQUESTS into the deaths of four people killed in a tipper truck crash in Bath have been opened and adjourned by a coroner.

The red truck first struck Mitzi Rosanna Steady, four, as it travelled down Lansdown Lane in Upper Weston, Bath, just after 4pm on Monday, February 9.

It went on to collide with a number of other vehicles before overturning on to a Volvo at the bottom of the hill, killing the three men inside.

They were Robert Parker, 59, from Cwmbran, electricity company director Philip Allen, 52, and taxi driver Stephen Vaughan, 34, both from Swansea.

Maria Voisin, senior coroner for Avon, opened all four inquests during a short hearing in Flax Bourton in North Somerset.

Avon Coroner's Court heard that full hearings could not take place due to an investigation into the tragedy by Avon and Somerset Police.

Speaking at the end of proceedings for each victim, Ms Voisin said: "This inquest will be opened and adjourned pending the police investigation, with a review date of July 1, 2015."

Police previously arrested driver Philip Potter, 19, from Brinkworth, on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and manslaughter by gross negligence.

A 28-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence.

Both have been released on police bail, pending further inquiries, until April 20.

The coroner's court first heard details of the death of Robert Parker who was travelling in the Volvo when it was struck by the truck. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 6.05pm.

Stephen Vaughan, from Penyrheol, near Gorseinon, Swansea, ran luxury taxi firm EliteXecutive Travel and was driving the Volvo. He was also pronounced dead at 6.05pm.

Father-of-two Philip Allen, was a resources and external affairs director for Cardiff-based Western Power Distribution. Mr Allen, who lived in Loughor, Swansea, was also a passenger in the Volvo and pronounced dead at 6.05pm.

The final inquest opened was of Mitzi Rosanna Steady, of Bath, who was crossing the road with her grandmother when they were hit by the truck. Mitzi was pronounced dead at 5pm by a paramedic and was formally identified by DNA tests.

Family members of the victims did not attend the short hearing.

A JustGiving page set up in memory of Mitzi by her parents Emmajade and Andrew Steady has raised more than £20,000 for road safety charity Brake.