She made the world a better place...grief over beauty queen and her best friend killed in car smash
THE family of a teenage beauty queen and anti-bullying campaigner spoke of their devastation yesterday after she and her best friend died in a car crash.
Skye Mitchell and Caitlin Huddleston, both 18, died when their Toyota Yaris collided with a Ford Transit van on the A595 near Bootle, Cumbria, on Friday night.
The friends, both from Millom, Cumbria, were pronounced dead at the scene. Another 18 yearold passenger in the Toyota is in a critical condition in hospital.
The 51-year-old male driver of the van was flown by air ambulance to Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool, where his condition is “serious but stable”.
Ms Mitchell’s family said: “Skye was a popular, kind, caring girl. She made the world a better place and Skye’s world was a wonderful world to be in.
“She made the most of her 18 years, embracing every opportunity that came her way.
Passionate
“Skye will be very sadly missed by mam, dad, step-mam, sisters, grandparents, boyfriend Aidan and her many friends. They will all miss the daily hugs she gave them.”
The teenager, who was crowned 2014 Junior Miss North West, launched an anti-bullying campaign after being bullied for her looks when she was younger. She had recently released a photograph with the taunts she had received written on her face.
The family said: “She appeared on national TV two years ago when she headed up an antibullying campaign, something she was passionate about.”
Specially trained police officers are supporting all the families involved.
Trudy Harrison, local Tory MP for Copeland, said: “It’s a dreadful shock to our community and a desperately sad day with the loss of two bright, beautiful, and ambitious young women.
“It is important that their personalities are remembered.
“Millom is a close-knit community but I know the whole town will rally round and support the families and friends.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends and the two in hospital, and hopefully they make a full, quick recovery.
She added: “Thanks must go to the emergency services for their quick response.”
Cumbria Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash.
A spokeswoman added: “The road was closed for six hours to allow officers to examine the scene and recover the vehicles.”