UPDATE: Crash victim named (From Oxford Mail)

UPDATE: Crash victim named

7:00pm Monday 6th October 2008 in

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A teenager killed in a crash with a coach as she cycled to school in Abingdon was tonight named locally as 17-year-old Sarah Waterhouse.

Sarah was a Year 13 pupil at Larkmead School, where headteacher Chris Harris called her a fantastic student.

Sarah was cycling to school just before 8.30am when she collided with a Tappins coach going to Abingdon School at the junction of Marcham Road and Colwell Drive, yards from Abingdon police station.

Police officers and staff from the nearby McDonald’s restaurant rushed out to help but Sarah was pronounced dead at the scene.

'As a school we will always treasure the memories of a fantastic student from a loving family who had her whole life before her'

Headteacher Chris Harris

In a letter sent home to Larkmead parents, Mr Harris said: "Our thoughts as a whole school go to her parents Gillian and John and her brother James, who is in Year 10.

"There is no greater tragedy for a family than the loss of a child.

"As a school community we share that loss and will always treasure the memories of a fantastic student from a loving family who had her whole life before her.

"Our thoughts stay with Sarah’s family, relations and close friends."

Classmate Nick Sudlow said Sarah was the smartest girl in their year, having done exceptionally well in her GCSEs last year and getting 4As in her AS-Levels.

As classmates laid flowers at the scene, he said: "She was great, always willing to help people. She had everything going for her and was going to go to Cambridge.

"Nobody had a bad word to say about her. At school everyone was really upset when they were told. So many people were crying."

Sarah played trombone and was a member of Wantage Silver Band for three years with her brother.

Youth band conductor Roger Middlebrook said: "On Saturday Sarah pointed out to me that she was now the oldest full member of Wantage Youth Brass. It struck me then that it would not be long until this bright, bubbly, joyous, delightful girl would be moving off to university and that we would miss her terribly.

"I'd like John and the family to know how much we care about them and how much we loved Sarah and the enthusiastic smile she brought to everything she did."

Mark Turner, headteacher of Abingdon Boys' School, said: "The thoughts and prayers of the Abingdon School community are with the family, friends and teachers of the Larkmead pupil who was so tragically involved."

McDonald’s employee Kat Curnoch, 18, of Austin Place, called for an ambulance after hearing the collision.

She said: "One of my customers looked up pretty sharply so I looked up. I didn't see her going under the bus.

"From where she was lying it looked like she was crossing the road from the McDonald’s side to the police station."

No-one was injured on the coach. The driver has not been arrested by police, who are continuing to carry out their investigations and are appealing for witnesses to call them on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.