Family’s nightmare at having to bury three grandchildren
THE PATERNAL grandparents of three children killed in the A40 horror smash on the way home from a weekend visit have described the “nightmare” of having to bury three grandchildren and their daughter- in- law.
Former Sheffield couple Sue and Kevin Powell said the crash that killed their 29- year- old daughter- in- law Zoe and children Phoebe, eight, Simeon, six, and Amelia, four, had come as “a big shock to us”.
The couple’s son, Josh Powell, and 18- month- old granddaughter Penny survived the crash.
In a statement issued through Thames Valley Police, they described how Zoe “became our daughter too” when she married school sweetheart Josh.
The pair moved to Sheffield together to attend university before settling in Chinnor, Oxfordshire.
They said: “One of the worst nightmares for a parent is to bury their child and grandparents do not expect to have to bury their grandchildren. We have to do both.”
They added: “They spent their last weekend with us, travelling home when the accident happened.
“The memories of that weekend bring us so much peace.”
They described their grandchildren as “full of life, independently minded and adventurous”.
The four members of the family died when the people carrier they were travelling was in collision with a lorry shortly before 10pm on October 12. The HGV driver suffered minor injuries
Mr Powell, 30, and daughter Penny both sustained serious injuries but are expected to recover.
The paternal grandparents said: “Penny is now the light of our lives. She is bringing us great joy in our sorrow.”