Well-wishers donate £6,000 for family of tragic road-death boy
A FUND set up to support the family of a 12-year-old boy who died in a road accident has already raised more than £6,000.
Taylor Tolley was struck by a car on Brett Street in Bridlington on Friday, and died of his injuries the following morning. It is the third tragedy to affect Taylor’s mother, Katie Tolley, in just over a decade.
The youngster’s father, Stuart Swift, died in a road accident at Carnaby 11 years ago. And in September, her husband, Andy Tolley, the Bridlington School pupil’s stepfather, was killed in a motorcycle accident at Bempton.
An online fund set up to support the family has seen more than £6,000 pledged in the first 36 hours.
Family friend Sherri Miller, who started the web page, said she was “totally devastated for the family to be going through this for the third time”.
She added: “I am raising money for Katie to be able to lay her son to rest without the stress of money, and all contributions will be much appreciated.”
A tribute to Taylor is being planned for tomorrow afternoon. Friends and family are expected to release balloons in his memory from the fields near to his home in Gypsey Road.
His headteacher, Kate Parker-Randall, paid tribute to Taylor saying his death came as a “total shock to us all”.
She added: “We have many fond memories of Taylor as an active and vibrant young man which makes his death even harder to take in.”
Others have posted their condolences online, and one message said: “Life can be cruel beyond words. RIP little man,” while another said: “What this young woman has been through over the years no one should have to endure that let alone lose one of her children.”
Nearly 500 people have donated so far. A similar fundraising campaign after Mr Tolley’s death raised £2,746 for the family. Humberside Police officers have appealed for any witnesses to Friday’s accident to come forward.