Teen killed in crash lost friend on same road (From The Argus)

Teen killed in crash lost friend on same road

5:23am Tuesday 19th June 2007 in

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A teenager killed just five days after passing his driving test lost a close friend to an accident on the same stretch of road just 20 months ago.

Sam Wilkinson, from Lancing, died after his Peugeot car left the A27 at Sompting and hit a lamppost in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The 17-year-old was a keen footballer who played for Lancing Rangers - the same club as fellow tragic teenager Joshua Skinner.

Joshua, from Sompting, died in October 2005 after he was knocked off his moped on the A27 heading home from Shoreham.

Campaigners said their deaths showed how vital it was for the busy route to be overhauled to make it safer for motorists.

And their fight was given extra weight when the driver of a blue saloon car had to be cut out of his vehicle after yet another smash on the A27 at midday yesterday.

The man was hauled out of the wreckage at Castle Goring, to the west of Worthing, on a fast stretch of the dual carriageway which has become a notorious accident blackspot.

The incidents have has prompted renewed calls for urgent action to make the road safer.

Worthing Borough Council's Lib Dem group leader, Councillor Bob Smytherman, who sits on the Worthing Together transport group, said: "A new bypass is unlikely and no government is likely to fund one.

"In my view we cannot wait for a bypass that might never happen, unfortunately it takes accidents like this and for young people to lose their lives for actions.

"Something needs to be done now."

The family and friends of Sam Wilkinson, known as Wilko to his pals, yesterday paid tribute to a "fun-loving lad".

Mum Brenda and sisters Ami and Vicky, of Grinstead Lane, described how they shared a lot of special moments together.

A statement from the family read: "We have been left devastated by the sad loss of Sam just 18 days short of his 18th birthday which he had been constantly reminding us about since the beginning of the year.

"Sam was a very sensible, thoughtful, fun-loving, hardworking lad who was very well loved and had a really promising future. He will be greatly missed.

"With his great sense of humour the four of us were such a great family unit and we shared a lot of special moments together that we shall hold in our hearts forever."

The mother of 16-year-old Joshua Skinner contacted The Argus to extend her sympathies to the family.

Paula Skinner, of Sompting, said: "He knew Sam, so I really do know how it feels."

The cause of Saturday's crash is still unknown.

Sam's car hit a lamppost as he headed west on the Sompting bypass just east of Lyons Farm Retail Park at 12.30am.

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police last night could not say when a post mortem examination of Sam's body would be carried out.

Three of Mr Wilkinson's four passengers were cut from the wreckage of the vehicle and one is still seriously ill in hospital in Southampton.

In their statement, the family said their thoughts go out to his friends involved in the crash.

Colleagues at Woolworths, in Montague Road, Worthing, where Mr Wilkinson worked were shocked at the news.

Assistant manager Sian Othen said: "He was a smashing chap and was very popular with all of the Saturday team.

"He was a nice lad and we'll all miss him."

Nik Gilbert, 21, played football with him every week and described how the group of friends held a minute's silence on Saturday before they played.

He said: "He was a smashing young man who was a really nice guy. Nobody had a bad word to say about him."

Funeral arrangements are still to be made although the family have expressed a wish for all those who knew Sam to join them and that as many cars as possible follow Sam from their home to the crematorium for the service.

Witnesses to the crash should call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999.