Teen musicians killed in smash ‘with drink-driver’
‘My heart is broken’
TWO teenage classical musicians were killed in a car crash just days before Christmas.
Sian Chambers and Alex Ross, both 19, died at the accident scene after their Ford Mondeo was in a late-night collision with a suspected drink-driver.
A 26- year- old man was later arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, providing a positive breath test and leaving the scene of a crash. He has been released on bail pending further inquiries.
Miss Chambers and Mr Ross were both double bassists with the Lincolnshire Youth Symphony Orchestra, performing in the UK and across Europe.
In a statement released through police, Mr Ross’s family said he had also been studying at the Royal Academy of Music in Lon- don. It read: ‘Alex was an extremely talented musician.
‘He was a former pupil at Caistor Grammar School [in Lincolnshire] where he won a scholarship to the Purcell School of Music in London. A double bass player, he was training at the Royal Academy of Music, also in London, where he was a second-year student. He had a brilliant future ahead of him which has been sadly taken away.’
Miss Chambers’ family were too upset to comment. She had graduated from North Hykeham sixth form in Lincoln and worked as an engraver at a jewellery shop in the city while continuing to perform music. The crash happened on the A46 Lincoln bypass in the early hours of Saturday.
All three emergency services attended, but the teenagers were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of a white Citroen C3 left the scene but was later traced by police. Friends of the pair paid tribute on social media. One wrote: ‘My heart is broken for Sian and her boyfriend’s family, never ever take anyone or anything for granted. Time is so precious. RIP you lovely lovely people.’ Another said: ‘Our thoughts are with both Sian’s and Alex’s families. Two amazing people taken far too early.’ Lincolnshire Police are urging anyone who saw the crash or the Citroen on the bypass between the Carholme and Skellingthorpe roundabouts between around midnight and 1am on December 22 to contact them on 101.