Teen girls’ grieving families hold memorial at crash site

Grief filled the air on Tuesday as the families of four teenage girls killed in a devastating car crash returned to the scene of the tragedy on Shirley Street for an emotional memorial service.

Tears flowed freely as relatives and loved ones embraced one another beside a makeshift memorial that had been created where the crash occurred early Sunday morning.

Bouquets of flowers, balloons, teddy bears and framed photographs rested on a blanket, serving as a poignant tribute to the young lives lost.

The victims were identified as 17-year-old Diamond Stubbs, 18-year-olds Betrica Brown and Stania Webb, and 19-year-old Evalena Johnson.

Family members stood in silence at times, overcome with emotion, while others prayed and comforted one another as they struggled to come to terms with the heartbreaking loss.

The four young women were among eight people traveling in the vehicle when the crash occurred.

According to police, the 19-year-old driver of a grey Mazda rental car lost control before the vehicle crashed into a tree. The collision claimed the lives of the four passengers and left the remaining occupants injured.

Tuesday's memorial offered grieving families and friends an opportunity to honour the victims' memories and support one another at the location where their lives were tragically cut short.