YFA pay tribute to former member killed in car crash

Tributes have been paid to a 16-year-old young firefighter killed in a scooter crash in Dorset.

Jade Clark, who was a member of the Hampshire branch of the YFA, died when she lost control of her vehicle on the A31 near Ringwood on Sunday evening [25 Feb].

The teenager was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which happened near the Ashley Heath roundabout. Latest reports from Dorset Police have suggested that a number of vehicles were involved in the collision and investigating officers are keen to trace one of these cars which left the scene prior to the arrival of police.

More than 1,800 people have "liked" a page set up on Facebook, called In Memory of Jade Clark, Gone But Never Forgot.

A statement on behalf of HFRS YFA described Jade as "a much-loved and valued member of the Association at Ringwood".

"She was highly regarded by her instructors, both as a person and as a young firefighter," the statement read. "She displayed all the skills and courage to have gone on to become an excellent firefighter.

"Jade was a cheerful young lady with huge determination, dedication and confidence. To her friends and fellow cadets she was always there to give help and advice if she possibly could.

"Jade will be remembered as being cheerful, cheeky, sometimes stubborn, but above all one of the gang. We are all going to miss her very much. Our thoughts are with her family at this difficult time and we have been in contact with them to offer our support."

The accident has also led to renewed calls to make urgent improvements to this section of the A31.

Councillors are planning to lobby the Department for Transport to reduce the speed limit on the road, after the Highways Agency said not enough motorists had been injured to justify the reduction.

Talking about the latest fatality, speed limit campaigner and town councillor Michael Thierry said he had been left “distraught for the people involved”.

“Reducing it to 50mph gives you that much more thinking time, and would help prevent accidents,” he added.

Posted 26/02/2013 by richard.hook@pavpub.com