Flowers and cards have been left in tribute to a 15-year-old schoolgirl who died in a crash involving a lorry and two teens on a bike in North Hykeham on Wednesday night.
Colourful tributes line the Station Road junction on Thursday, October 10, filled with messages of sympathy and heartbreak from school friends, families and neighbours in the Hykeham area.
Nearby schools are offering support and counselling to young pupils affected by the incident, and the local community has come together to praise emergency services who worked at the scene for several hours, as well as passers-by who stepped in to help.
Lincolnshire Police received a report of a crash on Station Road at 5.10pm on October 9. The road was closed for several hours while police and other emergency services dealt with the incident.
Police said a 14-year-old boy, who was also on the bike, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. He remains in hospital at the time of writing. His injuries are not believed to be life threatening.
Both schools have now released statements about the incident.
Photo: Daniel Jaines for The Lincolnite
Photo: Daniel Jaines for The Lincolnite
‘Fly high angel’
Cards and flowers with messages of tribute have been left at the scene.
Emily, Shauna and Freya wrote: “We are sending all our love and we couldn’t thank you enough for the time we had. Sadly it wasn’t enough, but they were the best times. You were and always will be gorgeous. Fly high you angel. We love you loads.”
Ella wrote: “RIP beautiful, we all love and miss you so much. It doesn’t feel real. Thinking of you always. Love Ella.”
Another card read: “Heartbreaking. Fly high angel. Thinking of your family at this time. Love Emma & Rachel.”
People on social media also sent wishes to the young boy, as well as praising the work of the emergency services and sending their thoughts to the lorry driver.
Photo: Daniel Jaines for The Lincolnite
School statement
Jo Tunnicliffe, Headtacher at North Kesteven Academy, released a statement on Thursday saying: “Everyone at North Kesteven Academy was heartbroken to hear of the death of one our students following a road traffic accident yesterday (October 9). Our thoughts today are with the student’s family and all her friends and teachers at NK Academy.
“Students and staff were informed this morning and we have brought in additional counselling support to help anyone who’s been affected by the news.
“Counselling support will be available over the coming days and some students who have been particularly affected have been allowed home.
“Our thoughts and best wishes also go to the family and friends of the other local student who was injured in the incident, and to everyone at Sir Robert Pattinson Academy. He is currently being treated for serious injuries at The Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.
“We have arranged for staff and Police Community Support Officers to be present outside our academy in the afternoon for the next few days to reassure parents and to encourage road safety.”
Photo: Daniel Jaines for The Lincolnite
Dale Hardy, Headteacher at Sir Robert Pattinson Academy, said: “A year 10 student from Sir Robert Pattinson Academy was seriously injured in a road traffic accident.
“Our student is currently receiving treatment for serious injuries at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those involved at this awful time.
“We are well aware of the shock and distress that may reverberate through the school community today, so we have worked through the night, contacting colleagues at other schools and the local authority, to ensure we have extra provision in place to support our students and staff as they arrived this morning.
“We will be doing everything possible to ensure that everyone feels supported during the difficult days ahead.”
Photo: Daniel Jaines for The Lincolnite
Inspector Ian Richardson previously said: “This devastating incident has not only had a major impact on the families of these teenagers but it has shocked the community.
“It has been difficult for everyone involved and our thoughts are with the families.
“We would ask people not to speculate while investigations continue. If anyone witnessed this incident they can contact us on 101.”
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Lincolnshire Police have dropped the £10,000 fine that was issued to a student for organising a party attended by up to 100 people.
Police were called to Viking House on Newland, which is managed by the University of Lincoln, on December 4 last year. When officers arrived they found a party “in full swing” with “at least 70 people, possibly up to 100”.
The fine will now no longer need to be paid. Andy Morrice, Chief Inspector at Lincolnshire Police, said: “The evidence was reviewed, and we decided to withdraw the ticket. We continue to work with the university who are very proactive and supportive in ensuring students act responsibly in our community.”
When the fine was first issued the University of Lincoln said it was taking the matter “extremely seriously” and had launched an internal investigation.
Chief Superintendent Jon McAdam of Lincolnshire Police previously said: “It seems the organiser had decided to ignore the rules and regulations set out by the COVID-19 legislation, which says that gatherings of more than 30 people are not allowed, and which are of course there to help stop the spread of the virus.
“As a result, we identified the organiser and issued the full £10,000 fine on-the-spot. This is of course means tested and only issued for the most serious of breaches, which this was.”
The Lincolnite contacted the University of Lincoln for a response to the news that the fine has been dropped.
Meanwhile, Lincolnshire Police issued 367 COVID-19 enforcement fines, including those under local lockdowns, between March and December last year, according to the latest data published from the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC).
City of Lincoln Council has approved a 1.9% tax hike despite a series of cuts for 2021-22 due to the financial uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 1.9% rise will take city council’s share of council tax for a Band D property in Lincoln to £285.39 – an increase of £5.31.
The executive committee agreed on increasing allotment charges, council house and garage rents.
Council bosses predict a budget gap of £1.75 million and said it must close the hole for financial stability.
Allotment charges will also see most tenants pay between £58.70-£78.30 per year from 2022, an increase of between 38p and 51 pence per week.
Council housing rent will increase by an average of 1.5%, while council garage rents will increase by 3%.
Attendees at City of Lincoln Council’s executive on Monday.
The authority said it faces a number of ongoing challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic and requires a substantial reduction in all of its budgets.
Cllr Ric Metcalfe, Leader of City of Lincoln Council said: “It’sareasonablymodestincreaseformostpeople,andwewill support lowincomegroups stillwiththeconcessions.”
The council has saved more than £9 million annually over the past decade, however will have to increase savings by £850,000 next year, rising to £1.75 million by 2023/24.
Due to the pandemic’s impact on government funded reliefs, empty properties and business closures, the authority estimates it will only retain £5.1 million of the £42 million of business rates generated in the city.
The draft budget will go to consultation and return before the council later this year for a final decision.
There have been 372 new coronavirus cases and nine COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Monday.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded 325 new cases in Lincolnshire, 30 in North Lincolnshire and 17 in North East Lincolnshire.
Some nine deaths were registered in Lincolnshire and none in North and North East Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.
NHS England reported nine new local hospital deaths at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and one at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust on Monday. Hospital deaths have now surpassed 1,000 since the pandemic started in Greater Lincolnshire.
National cases increased by 37,535 to 3,433,494, while deaths rose by 599 to 89,860.
Leader of South Holland District Council, Cllr Lord Gary Porter, put the spike down to outbreaks in two care facilities, one being a children’s care home.
A group of urban explorers who travelled from three different counties to look around derelict buildings were caught and fined in Grantham for breaching lockdown rules. Two groups of revellers in the woods near Woodhall Spa have also been fined.
In national news, Public Health England have confirmed 4,062,501 people have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Those in England aged 70 and over, as well as the clinically extremely vulnerable, will begin receiving offers of a coronavirus vaccine this week.
Ten hospital trusts across England consistently reported having no spare adult critical care beds in the most recent figures available.
It comes as hospital waiting times, coronavirus admissions and patients requiring intensive care are rising.
All UK travel corridors, which allow arrivals from some countries to avoid having to quarantine, have now closed until at least February 15.
Travellers arriving in the UK, whether by boat, train or plane, also have to show proof of a negative coronavirus test to be allowed entry.
Supermarkets face increased inspections from local councils to ensure they are COVID-secure amid a push from the government to clamp down further on coronavirus transmission.
Local governments have been asked by ministers to target the largest supermarkets for inspection to ensure companies are enforcing mask wearing, social distancing and limits on shopper numbers.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rate up to January 17 according to the government dashboard:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Jan 11 to Jan 17. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Monday, January 18
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
44,374 cases (up 372)
30,784 in Lincolnshire (up 325)
6,927 in North Lincolnshire (up 30)
6,663 in North East Lincolnshire (up 17)
1,686 deaths (up nine)
1,196 from Lincolnshire (up nine)
268 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
222 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)
of which 1,006 hospital deaths (up 10)
612 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (up nine)
30 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
363 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (up one)
3,433,494 UK cases, 89,860 deaths
DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF the latest update. postcode data includes deaths not in healthcare facilities or in hospitals outside authority boundaries.