Tributes to teen killed in ‘hen party’ crash

TRIBUTES were paid yesterday to the teenager who was killed in a horrific motorway crash involving a minibus taking a group of women to a hen party.

Bethany Jones, 18, was killed and eight women seriously injured when their vehicle collided with a lorry on the M62, near Pontefract, West Yorkshire, on Friday.

In total, 21 women were injured, including the bride-to-be, named in reports as ­Stefanie Firth, after the group set out from nearby South Elmsall to travel to Liverpool.

The driver of the lorry was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been released on bail, West Yorkshire Police said.

Of the eight women critically injured, one is in intensive care while seven are described as being in a “serious but stable” condition, a ­police spokesman said. The crash left the minibus on its side across a carriageway and luggage strewn across the motorway. Firefighters called the crash “the worst they had seen in a number of years”.

Tributes and messages of support were posted on Facebook yesterday. Holly Jackson wrote: “RIP Beth hope ur family are holding up. Xx.” Alexandra Wood wrote to Ashleigh Warner, who is among the injured: “Get well soon ash, thinking of you and your family xxx.” Emma ­Simon wrote: “Thinking of you all Ash, hope you all make a quick recovery xx.”