Amy, 12, killed in road tragedy

From the archive, first published Wednesday 6th Dec 2006.

A head teacher today paid tribute to one of her pupils who was tragically killed on the way home from school.

Skipton Girls' High School head teacher Jan Renou described Amy Howard as a pupil of "enormous potential".

Amy, 12, who lived with her family in Crossbank Road, Addingham, was crossing the busy Wharfedale Road at about 4.15pm on Monday after getting off a school bus a short distance from her home when she was in an accident with a Honda four-wheel-drive vehicle travelling in the direction of Skipton.

Paramedics took her to Airedale General Hospital at Steeton where she died despite efforts to save her.

Today her family was too distraught to speak but Mrs Renou took the lead in paying tribute.

"She was a bright student with enormous potential," she said.

"Amy is a huge loss to friends and staff as she was a wonderful character within the class - people were especially appreciative of her warmth and sense of humour."

And she added: "She was a leader of positive feeling and able to create a friendly atmosphere wherever she went. The whole school community is devastated."

It is believed Amy's family only recently moved to their rural-set home in a former water board building not far from the bus stop where the incident happened.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "It's been an accident waiting to happen on that road. There are no lights and there shouldn't be bus stops without lighting. We've told people about this before but no matter who we tell, no-one has listened. Maybe now they will. It's a tragedy but many of us round here feared something like this would happen."

Another man who lives nearby said: "Police kept driving a car up and down, I think they were trying to work out what had happened.

"That road is so dangerous, it's unbelievable there can be bus stops there but no lights. Someone has to take responsibility for people's safety."

Barry Maguire, marketing manager for Keighley and District Travel which runs the dedicated school bus service on which Amy was a passenger, said the company would help in whatever way it could with the police investigation. However the bus was one of a handful of vehicles which was not fitted with CCTV.

Mr Maguire said: "The bus could have been one of two dedicated school busses we operate. The incident happened after the bus had pulled away so neither driver was aware of anything. We pass on our sympathy to the family involved."

On the grass verge close to the accident, a simple tribute written on a card among a bouquet of cream-coloured roses read: "Amy Sweetheart, you were an angel in life, now safe in the arms of the angels in heaven."

Police have appealed for witnesses to get in touch and help piece together what happened in the incident which involved a Honda CRV whose driver had to be treated for shock.

Investigating officers are especially keen to trace and talk to the drivers of two cars believed to have been following the Honda at the time of the accident. Anyone with information should call Keighley Police on (01535) 617059.

e-mail: kathie.griffiths@bradford.newsquest.co.uk