Tributes to Daniel after horror smash
THE devastated mother of an Ossett teenager who was killed when his car crashed into a tree has spoken of the heartbreak at losing her son.
Daniel Shields, 17, of South Parade, was with his fiance Hayley Baker, 17, and childhood friends Adam Wade, 17 and Billy Bortoff, 16, when he lost control of his blue Vauxhall Corsa at 11.22pm on Friday, March 10, and it hit a tree in Moor Knoll Lane, East Ardsley.
His fiance – who he became engaged to at Christmas – and his other co-passengers are still in intensive care at Leeds General Infirmary. Police have described their condition as critical but stable.
Daniel’s mum, Julie Turfrey, said: “I was told about this in the early hours of Saturday morning and I felt awful.
“At the moment I am totally numb – I will never get over this.”
Daniel’s brothers and sisters – David, 20, Rebekah, 14, Bradley, 13, Jade, 11, and Emily, seven – have paid their own tributes to him, with the younger ones coming to terms with the tragedy by putting their drawings in his memory in the front room window.
“The youngest child, Shona, who is one, is too young to fully realise what’s happened,” said Mrs Turfrey.
She said family and friends had rallied round since her son’s death and tributes had poured into a website that had been set up in Daniel’s memory.
She added: “My family are helping me over this tragedy and it’s a matter of taking things one day at a time. Having the family around is a great comfort.”
The funeral will take place on Thursday, March 23, at 10.30am at St John’s Church, South Parade, Ossett, with a burial at the town’s Manor Road cemetery.
Mrs Turfrey added: “I want everyone who knew my son to come along to the funeral. He was a popular person and was held in great affection by his family and I want everyone to remember him as he was.”
On Monday night 60 teenagers, including many of Daniel’s friends, held a candlelight vigil from 7pm to 8.30pm at the spot where he died. Flowers were laid and poems were read out in his memory before they were pinned to nearby walls and trees.
Daniel’s best friend, Kieran Brogan, and another friend, Matthew Rolinson, both 17, have set up a website which can be found at www.danny-boi-r-i-p-piczo.com.
Tributes can be made at that site and at another, www.www.dannyshields.piczo.com.
Details about where to make cash donations as a tribute can also be found.
Kieran said: “Any money we make from the website will go to Dan’s family and will also pay for an engraved plaque which we intend to place at the crash site.
“Money made from a tribute CD called Precious: A Tribute To Daniel Shields – made by Dan’s favourite DJs, Simmo and Danny Bond, from the Fruit Cupboard R&B/dance club, Call Lane, Leeds and on sale at the club for 4 – will be donated to the family and plaque fund.”
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Weather for Wakefield
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -4 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 0 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
