Tributes today flooded in to the victims of a horror car crash as news of the three tragedies left people in a Shropshire town in shock.
People in Ellesmere were left devastated as it was realised the two women killed, Corrine Thomas, who would have turned 25 yesterday, and her friend, Kiera Smyth, 18, were from the town.
Shropshire Star video - Call for action on crash road
The third crash victim, Robert McLoughlin, went to Lakelands School with Miss Smyth.
She was known as Kiera McKay during her school years and Mr McLoughlin was living in Liverpool.
The three victims were travelling in a Corsa with two others on a night out in Oswestry when the car was in collision with another and burst into flames.
Pictured is Daniel Batha and his son Keenan, the partner and young son of Corrine Thomas.
Flowers were left at the crash scene on the A495 near the Narrow Boat pub, between Whittington and Welsh Frankton, today.
Lakelands headteacher Ian Sanders said: “The whole school community is devastated by the news and our thoughts are with the family, relatives and friends of the people who were killed and seriously injured in the accident.”
He said they were “popular students who had their whole lives ahead of them”.
He added Miss Smyth’s brother was a pupil and due to leave this year.
Miss Thomas had been with her partner, Daniel Batha, since she was 14. Left to console their five-year-old son Keenan, Mr Batha said she was devoted to him.
Her mum Olwen Sides said: “She adored children and loved dogs. She was a pretty determined person, she had an obsession with shopping.”
Miss Thomas was the granddaughter of Oswestry Town Council members Bill and Moira Benyon.
Town mayor Gareth Jones said: “The thoughts of councillors and the people of Oswestry are with Bill and Moira and their family and with the families of those involved in the accident.”
Narrow Boat pub owner Colin Hill said: “I still can’t believe it, we’re just all in complete shock.
“Three young lives have been taken away from us and it’s just dreadful. I just hope the other two young women pull through. My thoughts are with the families of these young people.”
One resident from Welsh Frankton, who did not wish to be named, said: “My sympathies go out to their families and friends.”
A resident of Ellesmere said the town was in shock.
Shropshire County Council leader Councillor Malcolm Pate today expressed the authority’s condolences to the families.
He made the comments before a cabinet meeting at Shirehall in Shrewsbury today.
Leave your tributes to Corrine Thomas, Kiera Smyth and Robert McLoughlin in the comments box below.
By Deborah Collins and Abigail Bates
22 Comments
my mum grew up with corrine and i knew her since i was tiny R .I.P ANGLE
Such a sad tragic loss, I am sure they will never be forgotten in such a close knit community like Ellesmere.
IT IS SO SAD WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE ARE TAKEN SO EARLY IN LIFE DUE TO ACCIDENTS I HOPE THAT THE FAMILYS INVOLVED CAN FIND COMFORT XXX
To my cousin Robert
We are all heartbroken because we have lost you, rest in peace, Lots of Love Danni x x x x
such a tragic loss. They will never be forfotten. Rest in peace x x x
I went to school with kiera and rob. I remember them both well and kiera was always happy and smiling. She was a joker and friends with pretty much everyone.
R.I.P guys.
My sympathy goes out to The families of all the people from lakelands school to have died in car crashes.
It is very upsetting that these three young people have lost thier lives in such tragic circumstances. I send my condolences to all the families involved. Things like this do touch me and I only hope their families can recover from this. God Bless.
you will never be forgotten.
miss you
xxx
still cant believe this has happened,i have lost two great friends.cant imagine how the familys are feeling.my deepest sympathy goes out to all of them!!
May I take this opportunity to thank you all for the comments and many things you have to say about our Darling Son Robert (Bob). His Mum and I are as you can all imagine broken hearted at the loss of our Baby, and I use that term in love, because to us he will always be our baby.
I would like to inform you all and please spread it to all he knew that we will be having Bobs funeral in his spiritual home of Ellesmere, to him Ellesmere was his home, it was a place that accepted him as one of their own when we came back to England to live and it was the place he always felt most at ease and were he had found true happiness I believe with Bekha with whom he was the happiest I have ever seen him for that I thank her from the bottom of my heart.
The funeral service which will be a celebration of his too short life but one which has left both his Mum and I with a lifetime of memories will be on Wednesday 28 May at 1.00 o’clock at St Marys church Ellesmere.
Dave & Val
such a shock to hear the news!! my heart goes out 2 all the families and close friends of them all!!!!
Bob…Sleep Well Sweetie, You Are Going To Be Sadly Missed By Us All xxx
Corrine and her family were like family to us when I was younger. I will miss her loads.
My thoughts go out to all her family.
Nikki xx
I send our deepest sympathies to Dave and Val and all of Rob’s family. Although I cannot even begin to imagine the sadness and pain you are going through right now, please find some comfort in the many kind words and caring thoughts from friends who knew Rob and those who had shared so many happy times with him. Those memories will live on.
We knew Rob as such a kind, caring, happy and laid back young guy, always smiling and just living a normal life. He will be so very sadly missed and will never forgotten by our family, ever. Our thoughts are with you all right now. God bless, Jo, Mike, Jordan and Leah.
my heart goes out to all the family and friends concerned in thier tragic loss. May you all find comfort in your family and friends. The whole community is rocked by this tragedy .
Who can we pick on now Bob!! Will miss you loads mate. Our deepest sorrow to Dave, val and all Bobs family and also the families of Corrine and Kiera rest in peace.All the lads at the garage.
R.I.P all three of you. My thoughts go out to the families of those involved xxx
all I can say is this is a tragic accident we will offer a prayer for them
another waste of life on our terrible shropshire roads
We still cant believe we have lost our beautful Corrine, taken away from us so suddenly, she was a loving and caring person who knew so many people.
Tash has lost her big sister with whom she spent so much time and had so much fun.
Thank you Corrine for giving us the most wonderful Grandson/Nephew in Keenan, he is a star and such a credit to both Corrine and Daniel. Our hearts go out to Daniel who has lost his partner and his sole mate.
We would also like to send our deepest sympathy to both Rob and Keira’s families.
Corrine funeral is on 2nd June at 1.15pm followed by cremation at Pentrebychan Crematorium Wrexham. We would ask all Corrine’s friends to come as you are no black.
We would also like to thank everyone for the kindest which will help us get through this very sad time.
Olwen Ian and Tash
We were on holiday at the time of this tragic accident and passed the same route only an hour before it happened. To all the families we offer our sincere condolences and trust that you find peace in the knowledge that you brought some great people into this world for a short time but they were good years.
love you cousin corrine ur the best and im so glad my other cousin rachel is out of hospital after that crash miss you cousin corrine love you loads mwah xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx