Parents launch teddy bear in memory of crash victim, 22

Jemma O’Sullivan, 22, died after the crash on the M18 in South Yorkshire in September 2010, which saw a lorry hit her car after she had stopped in a traffic jam.

A police investigation subsequently found the driver of the lorry had been operating on cruise control and had been texting on his mobile phone for up to a hour while at the wheel.

He was sentenced to five years in jail and given a five-year driving ban, and yesterday Miss O’Sullivan’s parents said they felt the new Jemma Bear initiative was a fitting tribute to their daughter.

The bears will be given to young children at the scene of road crashes by police in a bid to comfort them – and yesterday senior officers said they also planned a crackdown on bad driving.

Miss O’Sullivan was from Ireland and a pharmacy student at Sunderland University. Her father, Vincent, and mother, Margaret, have funded the production of 500 Jemma Bears in her memory.

Mr O’Sullivan said: “We know first-hand how difficult it is to receive a visit from the police with bad news or to have to deal
with trauma at the site of an accident.

“It is even more difficult if there are young children present. After discussion with South Yorkshire Police, we felt a toy bear may be a comfort and perhaps a distraction to children trying to deal with shock or possible grief.

“Jemma spent hours of her own time helping those less fortunate in our society, and through the Jemma Bear project we would like to carry on this work in her memory.”

Miss O’Sullivan had spent time in South Africa as a volunteer in 2009 and had worked in an Aids hospice with the Mary Potter Missionary charity.

Insp Pete Serhatlic, of South Yorkshire Police, said yesterday’s launch coincided with a new operation using an unmarked HGV which aimed to catch drivers texting, using laptop computers or reading newspapers.

He added: “The launch of Jemma Bear linked to our enforcement is a sad but timely reminder that to every driver that you are responsible for your actions when you get behind the wheel.”