Tributes paid to crash girl
Tributes have today been paid to a talented 17-year-old Shropshire student who was killed in a car crash. Tributes have today been paid to a talented 17-year-old Shropshire student who was killed in a car crash. Hayley Jayne Roberts, of Ellesmere, died in hospital from serious injuries suffered in an accident on the A495 road between Ellesmere and Whittington at midday on Friday. The teenager had been driving a red Rover 25 hatchback towards Ellesmere when it was in collision with a silver Mitsubishi 4x4 pickup travelling in the opposite direction. She was flown by air ambulance to the trauma unit at North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary but died early on Saturday. Read the full story in the Shropshire Star
Hayley Jayne Roberts, of Ellesmere, died in hospital from serious injuries suffered in an accident on the A495 road between Ellesmere and Whittington at midday on Friday.
The teenager had been driving a red Rover 25 hatchback towards Ellesmere when it was in collision with a silver Mitsubishi 4x4 pickup travelling in the opposite direction.
She was flown by air ambulance to the trauma unit at North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary but died early on Saturday.
Piles of flowers marked the spot where the accident took place, close to the Hindford junction, about a mile outside Whittington. They had been placed there by Hayley's grieving friends over the weekend.
New year celebrations were muted in the town last night as residents tried to come to terms with the tragedy.
The mayor of Ellesmere Councillor Ann Hartley today said the whole town was in a state of shock.
She said: "Obviously I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the family. It is always a tragedy to lose such a young life and it seems even more poignant at this time of year.
"We know the family and this has affected the whole town. Ellesmere is such a close community and we all feel a tragic loss like this."
Hayley was a former pupil at the town's Lakelands School and Sports College where she had excelled academically, at sport and drama.
In her GCSE examinations almost two years ago she gained 10 passes, all at A* or A grade, and was in the second year of a college A-level course when she died.
In December 2004, Hayley was given an award from the Princess Diana Memorial Award Scheme for her voluntary work.
She also received the West Mercia Police Good Citizens award and the Out of Hours Learning Award presented by the North Shropshire education action zone.
Hayley had taken part in drama productions at school and had appeared in the Ellesmere pantomimes.
Anyone with information can call police on 08457 444888.
By Deborah Knox and Andy Rogers
