Shrewsbury remembers four teenagers killed in crash

  • By Andy Giddings
  • BBC News, West Midlands

23 November 2023

Updated 8 hours ago

Jevon Hirst, Harvey Owen, Wilf Fitchett and Hugo Morris

Image source, Alamy

People continue to gather to pay their respects following the deaths of four teenagers in a crash in north Wales.

Wilf Fitchett, Jevon Hirst, Harvey Owen and Hugo Morris, who were all students at Shrewsbury College, were found on Tuesday in an overturned, partially submerged car in Gwynedd.

Police said some of the families had visited the scene on Thursday, before a vigil in Llanfrothen.

Officers have appealed for anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.

North Wales Police said it also wanted to hear from people travelling on the A4085 between Penrhyndeudraeth and Beddgelert between 11:00 GMT on 19 November and 10:00 on 21 November.

Supt Simon Barrasford said officers were continuing to investigate the cause of the crash and were examining the vehicle.

Candles at Shrewsbury Abbey

Image source, PA Media

In Shropshire, Shrewsbury Abbey and other churches opened their doors again to those who wanted to pay their respects.

Steve Swinden, the parish administrator at the abbey, said up to 600 people came to light candles, leave flowers or write messages of condolence on Wednesday.

He said the abbey would stay open longer than usual on Thursday, with chaplains and volunteers on hand to pray with people or just to talk to them.

Many of those who have attended are students, and it emerged that the teenagers were among six members of the college to have died in recent weeks.

The father of Ben Worrall, who was killed in a crash in October, posted his “heartfelt condolences” to the four families on the Shropshire Star’s Facebook page.

He added: “We know what you are going through and what you are feeling right now.

Please if any of you want to get in touch please do.

Be strong for each other.”

Flowers on steps into a college

In a statement, Shrewsbury College said it had brought in support for students and teachers following the crash.

Mr Swinden said Shrewsbury Abbey’s doors were open to anyone who wanted to come in.

“Most people simply want to be there on their own or in small groups and remember just the boys, collect their own thoughts, say their own prayers,” he said.

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