Vigil at hospital for crash victim

11:40am Friday 9th May 2008

A DEVASTATED couple are keeping a 24-hour vigil at the bedside of their 16-year-old son after he suffered serious head injuries in a moped crash near York.

Sheryl and Melvyn Hughes said their son Billy-Joe, who is in a stable, but critical condition in intensive care at Leeds General Infirmary, had only had his Aprilia 50cc moped for four months since his 16th birthday.

Sheryl, of Shipton-by-Beningbrough, near York, said: "It was his pride and joy. It gave him freedom and independence. I think he was returning home from friends in Haxby when the accident happened.

"He was a very careful rider, and he wasn't biking up and down the road as local people may have thought."

Billy-Joe was injured when his moped collided with a stationary silver Mazda estate in Mill Lane, Wigginton, last Saturday evening, while he was travelling towards the B1363.

He was initially taken to York Hospital, but then transferred to Leeds. Local residents said they heard a "colossal bang" when the moped hit the car.

PC Paul Stamp, who is investigating the accident, has appealed for witnesses to phone him on 0845 6060247.

Sheryl stressed that Billy-Joe, an Easingwold School pupil, had been wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, contrary to rumours circulating in the area.

She said he had been preparing to leave school next Monday to begin study leave, prior to taking his GCSEs, when the accident happened. She said staff at the school had been upset at what had happened.

Her son, who had been looking forward to the school leaving party, had been planning to join the family business, Hughes Removals, of Shipton-by-Beningbrough, after finishing his exams.

"We are totally devastated," she said. "We're taking each day as it comes at the moment. We have had a lot of support from family and friends. It has been a big help."

She praised doctors and nurses at the hospital for their work in looking after Billy-Joe. "They have been absolutely brilliant. They've been fantastic."