Teenager dies in bike crash

6:57pm Friday 15th August 2008

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A teenager was killed in a motorcycle crash just hours after he got his AS Level results.

Guy Evans, 17, died as he was riding with three friends in Featherbed Lane - a well known cut-through between Wantage and the Hendreds and Didcot - just before 9pm on Thursday night.

None of the other motorcycles is thought to have been involved in the crash and Guy, who lived in Long Wittenham, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Tonight one of his friends, Henry Cook, said Guy had only received his exam results that day and earlier this week had got his full motorcycle licence.

He said: "He was very happy about (passing his motorbike test).

"Guy was probably my best friend, the one who'd know what to always say to make me happier. The times we had will be forever at the front of my mind.

"He was an inspiration to me and helped me through every single time I was in trouble.

"He was always there for me and I regret that I never thanked him properly for it."

Mr Cook said he and Guy were part of a group called Spark in the Dark, which runs out of The Vibe youth club in Didcot and organises music events for young people around the town.

Friends gathered there today and Mr Cook said a page would be set up on the social networking website myspace.com for people to leave tributes to Guy.

Another friend, Joe Siemieniuk, said: "Guy was such a down-to-earth person.

"He always had a smile on his face. I've known him since pre-school and this is such a tragic loss of young life.

"He loved everything about motorcycling. He had his whole life ahead of him."

Police are appealing for any motorists in the area at about 8.50pm on Thursday to come forward.

Ivor Wells, 17, of Greensands, East Hendred, stopped to help at the scene with five of his friends.

He said: "It was quite bad. We were the first car on the scene about five seconds after it happened and I was there until about 10.30pm.

"There were three other people there too, all on motorbikes. They were all really distressed. We helped the paramedics."

Mr Wells believed Guy had been travelling in the direction of Didcot when the accident happened.

Thomas Corrigan, 43, a butcher at the nearby Q Gardens shop, said: "Lots of people use the road as a cut-through.

"It definitely needs more lighting and more marks on the road telling you it's a corner. There are no signs until you are right on top of it."

Robert Michalczyka, 32, who also works at the shop, said: "It would say it's a death trap.

"I have been here for seven years and I've heard about so many accidents on the road. It's so dark and the hedges are so high and close to the road."

Anyone with information should call Pc Sandra Terry at Abingdon traffic base on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.