Our world is shattered, say family of Castleford woman killed in taxi crash

Jacqueline Melinda Friend, 59, died along with Lynda Leonard, 52, from Bradford, in the crash in Doncaster in the early hours of Sunday.

Police today released details of the two victims and appealed for witnesses to the crash on Great North Road to come forward.

The family of Mrs Friend said in a statement: “The most fabulous wife, mum, nana, sister, aunty & friend, was tragically taken from all her loved ones by the incident on Saturday night in Doncaster.

“Our world has been shattered, and will never be the same again. Jackie was the foundation of our whole family, and will be missed unbearably by all who knew and loved her. We will love her forever.”

The family of Ms Leonard said she would be “sadly missed by her daughter Abbygail and partner Colin”.

Police said two women died and ten people were injured in the crash.

It involved a Fiat Scudo taxi, travelling along Great North Road in the direction towards Doncaster and containing the 40-year-old driver and six passengers, three men aged 22, 25 and 29-years-old, and three women, aged 21, 25 and 26-years-old.

At around the same time, a LTI London taxi, carrying a 61-year-old driver and four passengers; two women aged 59 and 52-years-old, and two men both aged 58-years-old, was travelling along the same road but in the opposite direction, towards Bawtry.

The collision occurred near to the Mount Pleasant hotel on Great North Road. The two women, 52 and 59-years-old, travelling in the LTI taxi sadly died following the collision.

The two men in the same vehicle sustained minor injuries, as did the six passengers in the Fiat, and were all taken to hospital. The drivers of the taxis, both men, were also taken to hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call 101 quoting incident number 26 of 31 January 2016.