Girl fights for life after triple death crash

Police said yesterday that the 16-year-old remains in Doncaster Royal Infirmary with serious injuries following the crash which killed Jonathan Scott, 17, Robert Ryan Tepper, 17, and 16-year-old Lauren Birkett.

Numerous floral tributes had been left at the scene, at the junction of Adwick Road and Crow Tree Lane in Adwick-upon-Dearne, yesterday.

One read: "Lauren, I don't know where to start, I'm going to miss you so much.

"Your beautiful face, your infectious laugh but, most of all, our friendship.

"Sleep tight, princess. I will treasure our memories forever. Gone but never forgotten."

Another said: "Bob and Joe, we grew up in Mexborough School and we all enjoyed a laugh with you, especially when we were camping."

A blue "Wilco Motorsave" T-shirt was also left in tribute to Jonathan, who worked at the firm as an apprentice mechanic.

The smash occurred as the four teenagers were travelling along Adwick Road, away from Mexborough, in a silver Vauxhall Corsa being driven by Jonathan.

The Corsa was attempting to overtake a silver Fiat Punto when it collided head-on with a Volkswagen Golf being driven by a 56-year-old man from London. He escaped with a broken collarbone.

Jonathan, from Conisbrough, and Robert, from Mexborough, died at the scene. The two girls, who were back-seat passengers in the car, were taken to hospital but Lauren, who was also a former Mexborough School pupil, died from her injuries in Rotherham Hospital.

South Yorkshire Police said the Vauxhall Astra had also overtaken the Punto moments before the smash. The Astra, which contained three passengers, stopped at the scene and the Punto driver continued on to Rotherham's Main Street police station to inform officers of the crash.