Safety plea of teenage car crash survivor

Chloe Newby, from Mexborough, suffered multiple injuries when the Vauxhall Corsa being driven by her boyfriend Jonathan Scott was involved in a head-on crash with another car on December 27. 2010.

Jonathan, 17, and Chloe’s friends Robert Tepper, 17, and Lauren Birkett, 16, were all killed.

Chloe, then 16, was left with injuries including brain damage and a broken neck. She also suffered multiple broken bones, a torn liver and a collapsed lung.

She spent two months in hospital following the crash and, although she has returned home and is now studying health and beauty at college, she still suffers from some brain damage including a poor memory and fatigue.

Law firm Irwin Mitchell is now helping Chloe’s family to access the funds needed for her rehabilitation.

A spokesman for the firm said: “Her physical recovery has been promising and is almost complete, but she continues to suffer with the terrible memories of the accident.”

Chloe said: “I feel lucky that I could be with my family this Christmas but it has been a very difficult time too as it was the first Christmas without Jonathan, Bobby and Lauren.

“I think about them all a lot and it’s still hard to believe they’re not here.

“I just want to tell everybody to drive safely this winter and at every other time of year too. Nothing is as important as your own life and the lives of others.”

The family’s solicitor, Kate Petchey, a serious injury expert from Irwin Mitchell, said: “The accident will have a lasting impact on her and her family for the rest of their lives, and it has had a devastating effect on the lives of others.

“We hope that this case can be resolved as quickly as possible.”