THE family of a teenager killed in a crash on the Horseshoe Pass have been overwhelmed by the support from the community following his tragic death.
Dale Williams and his friend Johnathan Cassidy-Jones, both 18 from Ruabon, were killed when the Peugeot car they were travelling in was involved in an accident on the A542 on January 9.
Their friend, Tom Pewtner, aged 18 from Ruabon, was also in the vehicle. He survived but sustained a number of injuries.
Speaking about how Dale’s family has coped following the tragedy, his grandfather
Phil Williams said: “The support we have had has been tremendous. Everyone has been so kind. This has affected the whole village, Ruabon is grieving.
“It is a big help to know that so many people are thinking about us. We have even been stopped in the street by people who want to pass on their condolences.”
Mr Williams said St Mary’s Church in Ruabon was completely packed for the funerals of Johnathan and Dale which were held on consecutive days – Thursday and Friday – last week.
The huge congregations showed how important the two young men were to so many people.
“It was particularly hard for the younger ones, I think they deserve a medal. People were openly weeping. We have received hundreds of sympathy cards.”
Young people in Ruabon have held a gathering of their own in the village to remember Dale and Johnathan and the crowd was about 400-strong.
Dale’s mother Anne said among the messages sent through the post was a card with the address marked simply as ‘The Family of Dale Williams, Ruabon, Wrexham’.
“It was from a friend of Dale’s at Llysfasi College in Ruthin saying he missed Dale and how proud he was to have known him,” she said.
Dale’s family said there were so many people they wanted to thank, stressing they greatly appreciated all the help and support.
Their thoughts were very much with Johnathan’s family and they wished Tom a full recovery.
Mr Williams said: “We would also like to thank Dale’s girlfriend, Jessica Jones of Pentrebychan.
“Her parents Rachael and Rob grew to love Dale like a son.
“They had been going out for more than two years.”
Dale’s family has also extended its sympathies to the family of 21-year-old Carys Wright, from Johnstown, who was killed in an accident in Brymbo on Monday.
Mr Williams said: “We would extend our sympathies to the family. We know exactly how they are feeling at this moment.”