In a heartbreaking turn of events, four teenagers tragically lost their lives in a road accident in North Wales, leaving the communities of Shrewsbury and Snowdonia in profound sorrow. The young students, identified as Jevon Hirst, 16, Harvey Owen, 17, Wilf Fitchett, 17, and Hugo Morris, 18, met with the fatal incident while en route to a camping trip in Snowdonia. Their journey took an unfortunate turn when their silver Ford Fiesta veered off the A4085 in Garreg, near Porthmadog.
The dreadful discovery of the accident was made two days after the teenagers went missing. A binman, while on his routine rounds, noticed the vehicle submerged in a flooded ditch. The car, which had flipped over, lay hidden from sight, exacerbated by the high water levels due to recent heavy rains. This revelation was shared by local farmer Rhys Williams, who resides near the crash site.
Williams described the location as a notorious accident blackspot, notorious for its sharp bends and narrow roads, often treacherous due to weather conditions. He recounted how the accident could have been averted had the car hit a tree or fence, instead of plummeting into the water-filled ditch. The area, known for its poor mobile phone connectivity, further complicated the search efforts.
Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing, with authorities examining the road conditions and other potential factors. The tragedy has deeply affected the town of Shrewsbury, where the teenagers were A-Level students at Shrewsbury College. The community has come together in mourning, with vigils being held at local churches and a floral tribute erected at the college campus. In respect for the grieving families and friends, the town’s Christmas light switch-on event was cancelled.
Adding to the poignancy of the situation, reports surfaced of a fifth teenager who narrowly missed joining his friends on the ill-fated trip. The families of the deceased are expected to formally identify their loved ones, marking a somber chapter in this tragic incident.
Harvey Owen’s mother, Crystal Owen, expressed her inconsolable grief on social media, highlighting the overwhelming pain the families are enduring. Her words resonate with the collective heartache felt by the entire community, united in their sorrow and remembrance of the young lives lost too soon.
