Flowers left after girl, 16, killed in bus crash

Floral tributes have been left at the scene of a crash involving a minibus and a car in which a 16-year-old girl died.

Eleanor Hague, known as Ellie, died when the minibus she was travelling in was involved in a collision with a Hyundai i10 in Toulston Lane, Tadcaster, at about 12:30 GMT on Monday.

The crash happened a short distance from Tadcaster Grammar School, where Ellie was a sixth form student.

Placing flowers at the scene on Wednesday, Pasquale Pranzo, who said Ellie used to work at his restaurant in Tadcaster, described the teenager as "a wonderful human being with a beautiful, humble personality - she was the life and soul of the party, she lit up the room".

Mr Pranzo said he and his daughter, 14, who also knew Ellie, were both "crying last night" over her death.

A note attached to a floral tribute laid at the scene described Ellie, who was from Sherburn in Elmet, as a "shining star".

"The sky is dimmer without you. Words cannot express the sadness we all feel," it said.

Another tribute, marked as "from all at TGS", stated: "You were an amazing TGS student.

"You brought warmth to any room you were in. A lovely, bubbly girl. Rest in peace."

A further tribute said: "I will miss you forever, I love you so much."

Meanwhile, Bethany Marchant, a teacher at the Bethany Lauren Dance Company in Sherburn in Elmet, also paid tribute.

Ms Marchant said: "Ellie danced against us in competitions. We saw her quite a lot at local festivals here.

"She was a fantastic dancer and a gorgeous girl inside and out.

"It's just a tragedy and I feel horrendous for her dance teacher and her family."

Ms Marchant said the news had been a shock for her students who used the school bus service regularly and who had been good friends with Ellie.

The dance school intended to donate to a fundraising page being set up for Ellie's family, she added.

Tadcaster Grammar School was closed to students on Tuesday, but reopened on Wednesday, with special assemblies expected to be held for each year group.

In a letter sent to parents on Wednesday Ellie was described by the school as a "lovely, bubbly young person" who "brought a lightness to the lessons she was in".

It said: "She was the kind of person who added warmth to any room that she was in.

"Ellie was well loved by those around her and we all loved Ellie's fantastic sense of humour."

It added that she would be "sorely missed by fellow students, staff and everyone who had the privilege of knowing her".

The message, from the school's chair of governors, head teacher, deputy head teacher and academy trust CEO, said their "deepest thoughts remain with Ellie's family and friends" and that students would be supported in the coming weeks.

"We are devastated to have lost Ellie from our school," they said.

North Yorkshire Police previously confirmed that all nine passengers on the minibus involved in the crash were students at Tadcaster Grammar and Sherburn High School, which share a sixth form.

One was seriously injured, while the other passengers and the man driving the minibus were treated in hospital for minor injuries.

The driver of the Hyundai car, a 40-year-old woman from Leeds, had been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving and had been released on bail, a force spokesperson said.

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