Four killed in quad bike horror crash were celebrating girl’s 16th birthday
FOUR friends killed in a horrific quad bike crash had been celebrating the birthday of the youngest member of the group, it emerged yesterday.
It is thought the two teenage girls and two men were enjoying a high-spirited night out to mark Terrie Kirby turning 16 when they were in collision with a car on an unlit road.
The tragedy also claimed the lives of Alexandra Binns, 18, Brandon Brown, 20, and Ryan Beal, who would have been 21 today.
Police are still investigating how a Nissan sports car came to hit the back of the bike in the early hours of Sunday morning, and the road remained closed yesterday.
Officers said the bike was unregistered and was therefore being driven illegally down the rural A6201 between Hemsworth and Upton in West Yorkshire.
Miss Kirby died at the scene along with Miss Binns and father-of-one Mr Beal, who was thought to have been driving the bike.
His close friend Mr Brown was taken to hospital with serious head injuries but died later. Two men, aged 21 and 22, in the bronze Nissan were arrested for causing death by dangerous driving but were released on bail yesterday pending further inquiries. Friends and relatives of the youngsters killed in the crash expressed shock and heartbreak on social media.
One said Terrie – also known to loved ones as Terrie Lynch – had died on her birthday.
Ashleigh Lynch wrote on Facebook: ‘I don’t actually know what to do with myself. Absolutely wounded, my heart’s actually melting. Why does it have to the best ones? My best friend out of it all. And on her 16th birthday. You’re my angel.’
Jeorgia Lynch added: ‘Can’t believe it, doesn’t seem true. Going to miss you Ryan Beal, Terrie Lynch. Fly high, don’t party too hard up there, beautiful angels. Love you Alexandra Binns, Brandon Brown, all too young, taken too soon.’
A friend of Miss Binns, who worked for a waste management firm, wrote: ‘My best friend, my rock, my sister. I love you Alexandra Binns, until we meet again. Words can’t describe the pain I’m feeling, heartbroken doesn’t come close.’
Steve Beal, 26, earlier spoke about how his brother Ryan, a window fitter, was a ‘caring dad’. He said his brother regularly rode his quad bike off road, adding: ‘I don’t know what he was doing with it out on the road.’
Residents have told how young people on quad bikes and other vehicles are known to ‘race around at speed’ in the area.
West Yorkshire Police have appealed for witnesses who saw the quad bike and the Nissan car being driven in the run up to the accident, which happened at 12.30am on Sunday morning.
Post-mortem examinations were being carried out yesterday.