Parents forgive driver for son's death

The parents of a university student who died in a car crash with two of his best friends say they do not blame the teenage driver for the tragedy.

Barbara and John Hutchinson's son Ryde, 18, died with driver James Self, 19 and Amie Williams, 19, when the Fiat Seicento they were in spun out of control and collided with an oncoming black taxi. A fourth student was seriously injured and remains in a London hospital.

Ryde was in the back of the car behind driver Mr Self and Mr Self's girlfriend Miss Williams when the accident happened in Blackheath Hill, Greenwich. All attended Greenwich University.

Mrs Hutchinson said today she did not blame the driver for the death of her "wonderful son".

"His family have their own grief and they do not need the extra worry of thinking other parents blame their son for the death of their kids," she said, describing her own son as "a happy, bright lad with his life ahead of him".

The tragedy happened last Monday evening as the students returned home from a night out. Mr Self had roused the others to go out to help cheer up Miss Williams following the death of her grandfather.

Mr Self's father Michael remembered them as a friendly bunch who recently visited his family home. He said: "They were all the best of friends and it is so sad they died in this way. They seemed to spend each waking moment in each other's company." He described Miss Williams as "a lovely girl" who James had started going out with soon after beginning his studies.

The close-knit group had all been first-year students and had known each other for just eight months. They were drawn together through their love of the outdoors. James spent holidays sailing near his home on the Norfolk coast, and Mr Hutchinson and Miss Williams were both keen snowboarders from Kent.

"Sailing had been James's interest from the time he could walk," Mr Self said today. "He was always around boats in this family. He worked in the local riverside pub, and thoroughly enjoyed it."

He said he was overwhelmed by the number of friends and teachers who had rallied round as the small community of Sutton prepared for a private memorial service this week. "The service is being taken by teachers from his old high school, with friends from all over the country coming for the day," said Mr Self. "One of his best friends is even coming back from America."

In Gillingham, the Hutchinsons are planning a unique funeral tomorrow, with two coaches of students and lecturers expected from London. As a hearse, the family plan to use a vintage 1959 Cadillac that Ryde and his brother Ross, 24, had been restoring with a Ghostbusters logo and bright red lights on the roof. Mourners have been asked to wear bright Hawaiian shirts to reflect Ryde's personality.

"It is what he would have wanted," said seismologist Mr Hutchinson, 54. "He wasn't the shy and retiring type."