The mother of a 16-year-old girl has paid tribute to her ‘beautiful baby’ who was killed alongside two others when a car hit a tree.
Lucy Tibbetts – who was travelling in the rear-seat of the yellow Skoda Fabia – died in the crash in Kingswinford, near Dudley, on Tuesday night.
Driver Joshua Parkes, 21, and another 16-year-old girl – whose family do not wish her name to be released – were also killed.
Front seat passenger Nathan Cartwright, 18, and Isobel Ramsell, also 16, are in a critical condition in hospital with potential life-threatening injuries.
Paying tribute to Lucy, her mother said: ‘Our beautiful baby has been taken from us.
‘You were an inspiration Lulu, you made us smile when you yourself found it so hard to… not just a daughter, a true friend.
Lucy Tibbetts – who was travelling in the rear-seat of the yellow Skoda Fabia – died in the crash in Kingswinford, near Dudley, on Tuesday night
Driver Joshua Parkes, 21, (pictured) and another 16-year-old girl – whose family do not wish her name to be released – were also killed
‘Rest in peace, no-one can hurt you now.’
Lucy had recently posted on social media her delight in passing her GCSE exams writing: ‘Most nervous day of my life, but we smashed it and I couldn’t be more proud of my best friend. Onwards and upwards.’
Police said the investigation into the crash continues.
Lucy was among a group of five people in a yellow Skoda Fabia which crashed on Bromley Lane at around 8.50pm.
An air ambulance, a critical care cars, three paramedic officers, an emergency doctor and six ambulances were sent to the scene after being alerted by police.
A West Midlands Police vehicle spotted the car shortly before the crash, but said it is not clear whether a pursuit took place.
Front seat passenger Nathan Cartwright, 18, (right) and Isobel Ramsell, also 16, are in a critical condition in hospital with potential life-threatening injuries
Police have launched an investigation after three of the five passengers of a Skoda Fabia were killed when their car smashed into a tree
Joshua Parkes, 21, the car’s driver, was also pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services
The deceased were among five people travelling in a yellow Skoda Fabia which crashed on Bromley Lane in the Kingswinford area of Dudley at around 8.50pm on Tuesday
A resident of the suburban road said they heard the crash and looked out their window to see the yellow Skoda ‘wrapped’ around the tree.
The road was closed overnight, re-opened at around 5am yesterday, according to a neighbour.
The force initially said officers had seen the vehicle moments before the crash but did not speak with the occupants or pursue the car.
A later statement instead suggests that ‘it is not known if there was any interaction with the Skoda’ by police, and this will now be investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
A police car was photographed being towed away from the scene last night on a loader truck.
A police car is seen being towed away from the scene of the crash last night. West Midlands Police said ‘ it is not known if there was any interaction with the Skoda’ by police
Driver Mr Parkes is believed to have put his Skoda sale up for sale on Facebook a few days before the fatal crash
Mr Parkes, the driver, had offered his Skoda for sale or for car swap last Friday, it emerged today.
On his Facebook account, he had posted a photograph of the vehicle with the message: ‘Any swaps/cash offers? Message for details’.
In reply to a friend on why he was selling the car so soon he replied with a ‘police car’ emoji.
The friend also asked him if it was him who he was trying to follow recently until he ran a red light. Mr Parkes replied: ‘Probably.’
West Midlands Ambulance Service took 18-year-old Nathan Cartwright to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s Major Trauma Centre with life threatening injuries.
He and another passenger, who sustained potentially life-threatening injuries, are believed to remain in a critical condition at the hospital.
Emergency services rushed to the scene where three of the car’s occupants were pronounced dead. A teenage boy and a teenage girl also in the car are in a critical condition in hospital
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: ‘Crews arrived at the scene to find a car had hit a tree, with five patients involved.
‘Sadly, it soon became clear nothing could be done to save the driver of the car, a man, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
‘Despite best efforts of staff, two teenage girls who were back seat passengers in the vehicle were also confirmed deceased at the scene.
‘Our thoughts go out to the families of all those involved at this time.’
Floral tributes have today been left at the scene of the crash where investigators worked through the night to clear the road and collect evidence.
Floral tributes have today been left at the scene of the crash where investigators worked through the night to clear the road and collect evidence
Sgt Dean Caswell said: ‘I’d urge anyone who saw the Skoda driving in the area last night, or who may have captured anything on dash-cam footage, to get in touch with us as soon as possible.’
Sgt Dean Caswell, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘This is a tragic time for the families of those involved, and we have specially trained officers who will be supporting them through the difficult time ahead.
‘The investigation is at a really early stage, and we’re trying to establish exactly what happened and why.
‘I’d urge anyone who saw the Skoda driving in the area last night, or who may have captured anything on dash-cam footage, to get in touch with us as soon as possible.’
Anyone with information has been asked to get in touch via Live Chat at www.west-midlands.police.uk, quoting log 4469 of 13 October.