Snowdonia: Police probing deaths of four teenagers in car crash in dashcam appeal as parents hold vigil
Police[1] investigating a car crash[2] in Snowdonia[3] that claimed the lives of four sixth form students are appealing for dashcam footage. Jevon Hirst, 16; Harvey Owen, 17; Wilf Fitchett, 17; and 18-year-old Hugo Morris were found dead in their crashed silver Ford Fiesta[4], on the edge of Snowdonia[5] National Park, on Tuesday morning. It was a tragic end to a major two-day search that was launched [6]after the boys, from Shrewsbury[7] in Shropshire[8], were reported missing having failed to return home from a camping trip.
The car is understood to have veered off the A4058 near Garreg Llanfrothen, near Tremadog, and was found on its roof and partially submerged in water. North Wales[9] Police is investigating the crash, and has launched an appeal for dashcam footage, from across a two-day period. “Police are particularly keen on obtaining dash cam footage from anybody who may have been travelling on the A4085 between Penrhyndeudraeth to Beddgelert in either direction between 11am on Sunday, November 19 and 10am on Tuesday, November 21 to contact them,” the force said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the boys’ families have reportedly held a vigil in the remote country lane where the crash happened. A photo published by MailOnline showed bunches of flowers tied to trees at the scene. A source reportedly close to the police investigation told MailOnline[10]: ‘The families have come to the crash site to hold an impromptu vigil for their loved ones.”
Superintendent Simon Barrasford of North Wales Police said: “Our deepest condolences and thoughts remain with the families of the four boys. They are all being supported by specially trained Family Liaison Officers. “A full and detailed investigation is underway to establish the cause of the collision.
Part of that investigation involves reviewing CCTV footage and we’d like to thank everyone who has already made contact with us. “Part of the investigation will also involve a full forensic vehicle examination and work is underway with our Forensic Collision Investigation Unit. Story continues
“We’d like to thank the local community in Garreg for their continued patience and understanding.” The boys are said to have stopped off for supplies at a shop in the small coastal town of Harlech on Sunday, on their way to an overnight camping trip in Snowdonia National Park.
(PA) Shopkeeper Lucy Jones told the Sun they had appeared in high spirits, saying: “They were happy, laughing and joking around…They all seemed to be in a really good mood.'”
Rhys Williams, a farmer who lives close to where the car was discovered, told The Mirror[11] it was a waste collection man in a recycling lorry that discovered the wrecked Ford Fiesta[12] on Tuesday morning, amid a major search by police and rescue teams.”They must have been going from Harlech north towards Snowdonia,” Mr Williams told the newspaper. “This is one of two roads they could have taken. “There are no tracks on the road, nothing to be seen. It’s a sharp bend, it narrows.
There were lots of leaves on that corner. There have been one or two accidents there before.”The boys’ families, friends, and community in Shropshire have expressed profound grief over the tragedy[13]. Crystal Owen, 17-year-old Harvey’s mother, said: “I feel like I’m in a nightmare I wish I could wake up from but I’m not.
“I just wanted to say I do appreciate people’s kindness but no amount of messages is going to help me overcome this. Nothing will make this nightmare go away.” Staff at the Dough and Oil restaurant where Harvey worked also paid tribute to him.
In a post on Instagram[14], they described him as “easy-going, warm, funny, gentle, bright, hardworking and humble”. “He gave it his all, developing a passion for dough and had dreams of one day opening his own bakery,” they said.
Candles and a sympathy card inside Shrewsbury Abbey, where people were being invited to pay their respects (PA) “Before shifts, or on his break, you’d often find him listening to music or his head in a book – unusually for his age enjoying the likes of The Doors[15] and Jack Kerouac, always keen to chat and discover something new.
“Our love, thoughts and condolences go out to Harvey’s family and to those of his friends, their lives full of promise cut so tragically short.” Maddi Corfield, the girlfriend of 17-year-old Wilf, posted a tribute online, writing: “I love you so much, I’m going to miss you forever. “The sweetest and most loving boy I’ve ever known.
I hope you know how much I love you, gorgeous. Thank you for all the time you’ve spent with me… thank you for loving me endlessly. I promise I’ll do the same for you, my sweet, sweet angel.”
She added: “I can’t imagine my world without you. I’m missing you so much already, but I am going to enjoy life the way you would’ve wanted, the way that you made me feel.” Shrewsbury Colleges Group, where the boys were A-level students, offered “deepest condolences to the family and friends” of the teenagers and said it had put in place a range of support measures to help those affected.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sent his condolences to the families, telling the Commons on Wednesday: “I know the thoughts of the whole House will be with the family and friends of the four teenagers who died in a car accident in North Wales.”
Anybody who may have information or dashcam footage that could assist the investigation is asked to contact officers at the Roads Crime Unit via the live webchat quoting reference number 23001169854.
References
- ^ Police (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ car crash (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ Snowdonia (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ were found dead in their crashed silver Ford Fiesta (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ Snowdonia (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ a major two-day search that was launched (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ Shrewsbury (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ Shropshire (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ Wales (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ MailOnline (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ The Mirror (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Ford Fiesta (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ families, friends, and community in Shropshire have expressed profound grief over the tragedy (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ Instagram (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ The Doors (www.standard.co.uk)