Car Accident Trio Tragedy

What started out to be a fun weekend, soon turned into a crash nightmare, after a car accident left two teens and a nine-year-old boy dead.

Tributes have been paid to the 17-year-old, and 18-year-old victims, who were killed when their car crashed into a wall near Aveton Gifford, Devon.

They had been at the Giffstock music festival, along with the nine-year-old, who was from Hallsands, who also died.

The collision happened soon after 11.00pm on Saturday, as the teens drove down a steep hill into the village. Their Vauxhall Corsa, veered off the road, overturned and crashed into a wall. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

A friend of the victim, Mark McManus, 17, was one of many who visited the crash scene. He said: "He was a really good friend, someone you could rely on.He was always there if you needed to talk to someone."

Anji Chant of the Kingsbridge Baptist Church, where the two teens were volunteer youth workers, said: "They were just the most wonderful, quality young men. They were both absolute sweethearts, full of humour and joy and life."

Floral tributes have been left at the scene of the crash and hundreds of messages have been left on the internet.

Special assemblies have been held at Kingsbridge Community College where friends have been offered professional counselling. The two older victims had left the institution in 2008 and 2007.

Linda Whitehouse, who taught the two teenagers at Kingsbridge Community College, said: "Those lads were so special, they stood out from the others with their sensitivity and wicked sense of humour.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the families of these lovely boys who I remember so fondly."

Mr Roger Pope the school principal, stated: "What you remember most about Jamie and Tom is how gentle they were. They were really open and pleasant young men.

Mr Pope added: "[The older student] had been part of a peer listening group which supported those younger than him. He always had a smile on his face. The other student would not hurt a fly. Now it is up to us as a community to support and help each other. When you see them grow up in a school, you are most aware of the tragic loss of potential and sense of waste. They had so much in front of them."

Devon a crash hotspot

Figures from Devon Road Safety revealed that the peak age for road accident casualties is 18-years. Out of the total number of casualties 420 were children under the age of 16.

The worst months for car accidents in the region occurs between October and January. Car driver casualties have increased in the area by 36%. Casualties to female drivers have also jumped by 63%.

Many crashes occur due to police vehicles, as a survey revealed that 1,041 casualties were attributed by police to inappropriate speeds. As a result many people fear cycling along the roads due to the areas traffic and speed limits.

Cllr. David Morrish, the County Council's Executive Member with responsibility for the Environment, said: "We have set ourselves vigorous targets to reduce accidents on our roads. It is one of the County Council's top priorities. We know that speed is the most significant factor in accidents and in particular makes all the difference between a bad bruising and severe injury or death."