The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Tributes to friends in death crash
Man appears in court charged with causing the deaths of Thomas Northam and Thomas Fletcher by dangerous driving following collision in Yaxley
Tributes have been paid to two friends who died in a road traffic horror. Thomas Fletcher (19) and Thomas Northam(22) died when they were hit by a car in Yaxley. A man has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
Emotional tributes have been paid to two young men who were killed in a hit and run incident.
Thomas Fletcher, (19), of Meadow Walk, Yaxley, and Thomas Northam, (22), of Lilac Walk, Yaxley, were killed in the collision as they walked along the B1091, Broadway, between Yaxley and Farcet on Tuesday last week.
They were struck by a BMW which was travelling along the road shortly after 11am on January 3.
Despite the best efforts of paramedics, the men died as a result of their injuries.
The BMW was left dumped in a field next to the road following the collision, and a case, said to contain £100,000 in cash, was found nearby.
Mr North am and Mr Fletcher were best friends, and had grown up together, and the pair are understood to have been on holiday together in Amsterdam the night before they tragically died in the collision. Floral tributes were left at the scene of the incident in Yaxley.
On Friday a man appeared in court charged with causing the deaths of the two men.
Richard Frost was rem anded into custody during a short hearing. Frost (38), who was arrested in Chelmsford on Tuesday, January 3, wore a grey tracksuit as he appeared in the dock at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
He was charged with two counts of causing death by dangerousdriving, twocounts of dangerous driving, common assault and causing actual bodily harm. The common assault relates to analleged attack on a man in Yaxley, while the ABH charge relates to an alleged assault on a woman in Peterborough.
Friends and family of the victims were in the public gallery during the hearing, and one person was ejected from the court after an outburst when Frost was brought into the dock. Another made another outburst as Frost was led back to the cells at the end of the hearing.
Frost did not enter pleas to any of the counts, and the court was told the case was too serious to be heard at Peterborough Magistrates Court.
A bail application was refused, and District Judge Ken Sheraton adjourned the case until Friday, February 3, when Frost will appear at Peterborough Crown Court.
Along with floral tributes at the scene, friends and family of the two men took to social media to pay tribute.
Thomas’ mother Tracey Northam took to Facebook to pay her respects, writing: “R.I.P baby boy love you forever. Love mum, dad, Rachael Plavecz Step ha nP lavecz Braedona ndKasey Xxxxxxxx .”
His cousin Anna Louise Plavecz said: “r.i.p tom love ualwaysnfo re vain my heart baby cuz xxx”
Frazer Love, who was friends with both the young men, added: “Cannot believe what has happened, always will be thinking of you both and the memories we have shared, many people loved you both.”
A just giving page was also set up in memory of the two men, with the aim of paying for the funerals. The page is aiming to raise £10,000, and has so far received more than £7,300.
The pair were well known in Yaxley, and both men had links to Clark DrainLtd, based on Station Road in the village.
A spokesman for the firm said: “It is with much sadness that we confirm that the two victims of the hit and run incident in Yaxley, Peterborough on Tuesday, January 3, are knowntoClark-Drain Ltd.
“Tom Fletcher, 19, has been an employee of ClarkDrain since May 2015 and Tom Northam, 22, wasanemployee of the company until December 2016.
“Both young men were popular members of staff, who will be missed by their numerous friends and colleagues who worked alongside them at our site inYaxley, Peterborough. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with both families at this tragic time.”
To donate to the appeal, visit the website at bit. ly/ funeralappeal
Cambridgeshire Police are still appealing for witnesses to get in touch with them by calling 101.