An aspiring teenage midwife has died in a crash following a police pursuit in Greater Manchester, only weeks before her 18th birthday—an occasion for which she had already chosen her outfit.
Fatal Collision in Bolton
Erica De Sousa Correia, 17, passed away after the car she was travelling in came off Walker Fold Road in Bolton on May 5. The vehicle subsequently smashed into a tree following a police pursuit. Emergency services attended the scene and transported the youngster to hospital with critical injuries, but she sadly died in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
A 17-year-old boy, who has not been named, has been charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving and has been bailed pending further enquiries. Images from the scene reveal a badly damaged tree with chipped bark and broken branches, as well as skid marks on the road left by the vehicle.
Family's Heartfelt Tribute
The tragedy occurred less than two weeks before Erica was due to celebrate her 18th birthday—an event her family say she had already selected an outfit for. In a statement paying tribute to Erica, her family described her as the 'kindest person'. They said: 'Erica's happiness was contagious. She loved to dance and sing and loved spending time in Portugal with her family. Erica wanted to become a midwife as she loved children and also studied travel and tourism. She was incredibly intelligent and studied hard and got good grades in school.'
They added: 'Erica was due to celebrate her 18th birthday on the 1 June and was looking forward to having a party to celebrate her special day. Erica even had her outfit planned for her birthday. Erica was the kindest person and would call us if she saw a homeless person so we could give money to help. Erica was the baby of our very close family. Our family cannot put into words our tragic loss and how much we will miss her. Please respect our privacy at this very distressing time.'
Police Investigation Ongoing
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have stated they are continuing to support Erica's family. An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct is ongoing.
