Tributes to fatal car crash trio

by Jonathan Morris
BBC News South West

Jamie Baker and TJ Capewell were "wonderful young men" said one friend

Tributes have been paid to two teenagers and a nine-year-old boy killed in a crash in south Devon.

Tom (TJ) Capewell, 17, from Aveton Gifford and Jamie Baker, 18, who grew up there, were killed when their car crashed into a wall near the village.

They had been at the Giffstock music festival, along with nine-year-old Noah Amato, from Hallsands, who also died.

Floral tributes have been left at the crash site and hundreds of messages have been left on a Facebook page.

The crash, soon after 2300 BST on Saturday, happened as the youngsters drove down a steep hill into the village.

Their car, a Vauxhall Corsa, veered off the road, overturned and crashed into a wall.

All were pronounced dead at the scene.

They were both absolute sweethearts, full of humour and joy and life Anji Chant, Kingsbridge Baptist Church

The Fisherman's Rest pub where TJ lived with his landlord father Mark and mother Athenia, was closed on Sunday night.

Jamie lived in the village until moving to Kingsbridge with his mother about four years ago.

Special assemblies have been held at Kingsbridge Community College where friends, some of whom have been in tears, have been offered professional counselling.

Jamie left the school last year and TJ had another year to go.

Principal Roger Pope told BBC News: "What you remember most about Jamie and Tom is how gentle they were.

"They were really open and pleasant young men."

Jamie had been part of a peer listening group which supported those younger than him.

Friends remember two teenagers and a nine-year-old boy killed in a crash

"He always had a smile on his face," said Mr Pope.

"TJ would not hurt a fly. He was gentle and generous.

"Now it is up to us as a community to support and help each other.

"When you see them grow up in a school, you are most aware of the tragic loss of potential and sense of waste. They had so much in front of them."

Jamie's friend Mark McManus, 17, one of many who visited the crash scene, said: "He was a really good friend, someone you could rely on.

"He was always there if you needed to talk to someone."

Anji Chant of the Kingsbridge Baptist Church, where Jamie and TJ were volunteer youth workers, said: "They were just the most wonderful, quality young men.

"They were both absolute sweethearts, full of humour and joy and life."

'Lovely boys'

Linda Whitehouse, who taught the two teenagers at Kingsbridge Community College, said: "Those lads were so special, they stood out from the others with their sensitivity and wicked sense of humour.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the families of these lovely boys who I remember so fondly."

Jamie's sister Lucy Stokes, wrote on Facebook where more than 600 people had joined a tribute page: "My darling beautiful baby brother... look how many friends you have... thank you everyone for your kind words, it's so heart warming to see how loved he was.

"Life will never be the same. It has not sunk in, I don't think it ever will."

Parish council chairman John Coates said: "There's a feeling of devastation, shock and deep, deep sadness.

"There's a lot of quiet around."

TJ was well known in the village as a member of the darts team and he served in the pub restaurant.

Tidying up after Giffstock had been done in almost complete silence, with some helpers, overcome by the news, having to go early.

Mr Coates said: "Our first thoughts are with the families.

"It's a very tight-knit community, so everybody knew the people involved and it's come close to a lot of people, but not as close as the families."

Police want to speak to anyone who saw the dark Vauxhall Corsa between Aveton Gifford and Bantham Cross roundabout, just after 2300 BST on Saturday night.