Murder police quiz man after student killed in hit-and-run
A STUDENT was killed in a hit-and-run after a car mounted the pavement outside a takeaway.
Rebecca Steer, 22, died shortly after she and a second pedestrian were struck by a Volvo yesterday morning.
Officers later revealed that a 28- year- old man had been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder in Oswestry, Shropshire.
The criminal justice student, who is believed to have been in her third year at university in Liverpool, had two siblings and lived in the Welsh border village of Llanymynech.
A resident said the former barmaid and holiday rep, who had worked abroad in Turkey, was ‘always smiling’, adding: ‘ It’s such a terrible tragedy. Everyone in the village is shocked by what has happened.
‘She was in one of the pubs in the village on Saturday night before she headed out to Oswestry with some friends. Becky was just a lovely, bubbly girl, nobody can believe it.’
Miss Steer had also worked at a convenience store in the village of Pant, where staff remembered her as ‘a beautiful soul’.
Shop supervisor Sophie Owen told the Daily Mail: ‘[Becky] would do absolutely anything for anyone. She was the life of the party and it’s beyond imaginable that she’s no longer with us.
‘She was absolutely stunning and had her whole life ahead of her, we are all in complete shock. My heart breaks for her family and friends. No one should have to go through [that].’
Another employee said: ‘ She was such a lovely girl. It’s such a waste. It is her mum I feel sorry for. I can’t imagine how you begin to cope.’
Last night Miss Steer’s family described her as ‘loving, talented and kind-hearted’. In a statement issued through police, they added: ‘We are all completely devastated by the loss of our beautiful girl, Rebecca.
‘She always had a smile and a laugh that made everybody love her. She will be greatly missed by her many friends and family. She was the best daughter, sister, granddaughter and friend anyone could ask for. Rest in peace beautiful girl.’
West Mercia Police announced the arrest in a statement yesterday morning.
The force said that Miss Steer and another pedestrian were struck by a car at 2.50am after it mounted the kerb outside the Grill Out takeaway.
They were taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Miss Steer, who attended Llanfyllin School in Powys before going to university, was pronounced dead shortly after. The second pedestrian suffered ‘serious injuries’ and is receiving treatment.
The force said officers were seeking a ‘gold/champagne coloured Volvo’ in connection with the incident, which was caught on CCTV.
A light gold S60 Volvo saloon car was found in a suburban culdesac in the town yesterday afternoon. Specialist forensic officers cordoned off the vehicle around 1pm and were later seen examining the car.
Detective Inspector Dave Bettison said: ‘Our thoughts go out to the family of the woman who has died as a result of this tragic incident. We believe there may have been a number of passengers in the vehicle, and I would also urge them to come forward.’
He added: ‘I’d like to thank the members of the public who worked tirelessly at the scene.’
He appealed for anybody with mobile phone, dash- cam or CCTV footage of the incident to come forward.
‘Beyond imaginable’