Schools mourn tragic loss of mom and son in horror crash
TWO East London high schools were thrust into mourning after a popular drama teacher and her son, a promising rower, were killed in a car crash in the Keiskamma Cuttings on Monday evening.
Tammy Percival, 44, who was a creative arts teacher at Hudson Park High School, and her son Liam Percival, 17, a Grade 10 pupil at Stirling High School, died when a truck smashed into their car.
Tammy also had links with Stirling High School, where she had been a drama teacher between 2008 and 2012.
She had driven to Port Elizabeth with her three children to surprise her husband Mark, who had been working as a sound technician on the Anthem of the Seas cruise ship for 10 months and had flown home for a holiday.
The accident happened when the family was on its way home.
Mark and the couple’s two daughters Britni, 20, and Hannah, 15, were unhurt.
Tammy was driving the family home on the R72 and her son was seated directly behind her when the truck, which was allegedly overtaking another truck on a blind bend, crashed into them.
Yesterday Hudson Park High principal Roy Hewett said the school had been “traumatised” by her tragic death and that she had been a “well-liked and popular member of staff”.
Hewett said Mark had taught technology at the school in a temporary capacity last year.
He said a number of staff had expressed interest in helping the Percivals with meals and financial support and that the school was considering an in-house memorial service for Tammy, who had been one of the Grade 8 heads and had been involved in all the school’s plays.
Stirling High deputy principal Alan Webster said the two deaths were “a terrible and senseless double tragedy for the school and the community”.
He said the school had flown its flag at half-mast and held a memorial assembly to pay their respects.
Liam’s sister Hannah is in Grade 9 at Stirling and Britni matriculated from the school in 2014.
Webster said Tammy had helped coordinate student involvement at the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival for 10 years and was well known among young jazz musicians.
Buffalo Rowing Club vice-president Kate Godfrey said Liam had started rowing in March.
“In his single scull he was the first member of the club to win a race at the Novice and Masters Regatta, racing against people older, larger and more experienced than him,” said Godfrey.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mtati Tana said the truck driver was unhurt and a case of culpable homicide had been opened. —