Yahoo News College pays tribute to 'bright and confident' teen, 17, killed in crash
College leaders have paid tribute to a 'bright and confident' student killed in a horrific Staffordshire smash. Sophie Bates was a passenger in the car which crashed in Penkridge killing her along with two other teenagers.
Now Stafford College has issued a tribute to 17-year-old Sophie, who was studying beauty therapy at the campus. Staff have also sent their 'thoughts and healing wishes' to Sophie's friend, Brooke Varley, another beauty student at the college, who survived the Cannock Road collision.
StokeonTrentLive reported how emergency services had been scrambled to reports of a single-vehicle smash just before midnight on May 25. Two teenagers - Dafydd Hûw Craven-Jones, 18, of Tanyfron, Wrexham, and Morgan Jones, 17, of Coedpoeth, Wrexham - were pronounced dead at the scene, while Sophie, of Stafford, passed away in hospital on May 28.
The fourth occupant of the car, Brooke, from Newport, Shropshire, also a rear-seat passenger of the Ford KA, was later discharged from hospital and is recovering at home. The 17-year-old previously spoke of her grief at losing 'such amazing people from my life'.
Following the tragedy, the devastated families of the two Wrexham teenagers killed in the collision paid tributes to the pair with Dafydd Hûw's heartbroken relatives describing him as a 'beautiful soul' while Morgan's family say he was 'loved by everyone'. Sophie's grieving family say she was 'full of fun and beyond witty.'
Now staff at Stafford College have paid tribute to Sophie.
Craig Hodgson, principal chief executive of Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG), said: "The entire college community is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Sophie Bates as a result of a road traffic accident that also devastatingly claimed the lives of two of her friends. Sophie was studying Level 2 Beauty Therapy at NSCG Stafford College and was described by her lecturers as 'a bright, confident, motivated student with a positive attitude and a great sense of humour, which meant she was always laughing'."
Mr Hodgson says Sophie was doing so well at her placement at Stafford's The Infirmary Hair and Beauty that she'd been offered a part-time job to fit around her studies. The talented teenager was also looking to complete additional nail courses at the salon before embarking on her Level 3 Beauty Therapy course in September.
The principal chief executive added: "She loved having music playing in the salon, was great with clients, and was a fantastic friend and supportive peer to the others in the group. There was no doubt that Sophie would have had an incredibly bright future in the beauty industry. Sophie’s family, who visited the college today, and friends remain in the thoughts and prayers of everyone connected with NSCG at this incredibly sad time."
Mr Hodgson says staff are continuing to think of Brooke, who was on the same course as Sophie.
He added: "Brooke was badly injured in the accident, but is now thankfully recovering at home in the care of her loving family. We send our thoughts and healing wishes to Brooke and will welcome her back to her studies with the support that she needs at an appropriate time."
Counsellors have been supporting students affected by the tragedy while a book of reflection is due to open at the college. A fund-raising page for the grieving families has been launched and can be found here.
Witnesses should call Staffordshire Police on 101 and quote incident 813 of May 25. Alternatively e-mail the collision investigation team directly on ciu@staffordshire.pnn.police.uk.
