Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Ex-prem star dies in fireball smash on school run
Villa ace Jlloyd Samuel dead at 37
FORMER Premier League star Jlloyd Samuel has been killed in a car crash after dropping his children at school.
The footballer, 37, was in a head-on collision with a van at rush hour yesterday, turning his
Range Rover into a fireball.
Dad-of-three Jlloyd was trapped inside as it caught fire. Firefighters said they arrived to it “well alight”.
The ex-aston Villa defender was pronounced dead at the scene.
The van driver, 54, was last night in hospital with serious injuries. He had to be cut from the wreckage.
Villa players wore black armbands for last night’s Championship play-off with Middlesbrough.
The club said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of our former player Jlloyd Samuel. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.”
Jlloyd, whose son Lakyle plays for Man City’s under-12s, played for Senrab FC as a boy with fellow future stars John Terry, Ledley King and Bobby Zamora.
He made 199 appearances for Villa from 1998 and 83 for Bolton between 2007 and 2011. He represented England from under-18 to under-21 levels and was called up to the senior squad in 2004. Jlloyd, who also has young daughter Amara and son Javarne with wife Emma, won two caps with his birth country Trinidad and Tobago.
He was most recently player-manager of nonleague side Egerton FC, near his home in Cheshire.
Police were called to the crash in High Legh at 7.55am. They said: “Sadly the driver of the car, Jlloyd Samuel, 37, from Lymm, died at the scene. Next of kin have been informed.”
Man Utd’s Ashley Young tweeted: “Took me under his wing when I joined Villa. Such a good guy on and off the pitch, a truly good friend.” Bolton said: “Rest in peace, Jlloyd. Our deepest condolences are with his family.”
Ray Wilkins’ widow Jackie will hand the FA Cup to the winners of Chelsea v Man United on Saturday. Ray, who died aged 61 last month, won it with the Reds in 83.