A PETITION set up by the friend of a teenager killed in a crash, can prove to be her ‘legacy’ - according to her mother.

Thomas Quick, 18, and a 17-year-old who can’t be named for legal reasons, were jailed for five years following a crash which led to the death of 17-year-old Olivia Alkir from Efnechtyd, near Ruthin.

Olivia died at the scene following the two-vehicle collision on the B5105 on June 27 2019. She was a passenger in a Ford Fiesta, driven by the unnamed 17-year-old who had just passed his driving test a day before.

Olivia’s close friend Joe Hinchcliffe set up a petition earlier this month in the hope that similar incidents can be prevented in future.

It has already gathered more than 6,700 signatures and calls on a law to be introduced in which new drivers must have a black box fitted and be limited to carrying one passenger.

Speaking about the petition, Olivia’s mum, Jo, said: “I’m so proud of Joe for setting it up as it’s something that is of such importance. He’s a good lad who’s decided to do something which is out of his comfort zone for someone of his age (18).

“The petition was all Joe’s idea but both myself and my husband (Mesut) have been supporting it and we’re calling it ‘Olivia’s Legacy’.

“She was a clever, bright and beautiful girl who should have been receiving A*’s in her A-levels from Ysgol Brynhyfryd, just like Joe did.

“But, if she could not go on to achieve further things in life, then we hope she can go onto change things in death through this petition”.

Joe Hinchcliffe first met Olivia Alkir at Ysgol Brynhyfryd School in Ruthin.

The 18-year-old from Llandyrnog befriended Olivia, who was head girl and had planned to go to University to study architectural engineering, in year seven and the pair became the best of friends.

Talking about his reasons for setting up the petition, Joe said: “Last summer, my life and that of so many others were irreversibly devastated. My best friend was killed as a result of dangerous driving by two young, irresponsible and inexperienced drivers. At that moment, the whole world changed.

"She was only 17, she was about to enter a whole new chapter of her life. She was supposed to go on a girls holiday, go to university and eventually settle down and raise a family of her own. All of this was torn away in an instant.

"Unfortunately, Olivia was not the first or the last to face an early grave due to reckless and dangerous driving. This realisation inspired me to take action and put a stop to these senseless deaths by trying to change the law surrounding new drivers.

"As young people, we often feel invincible and promise ourselves that it 'won’t happen to us', unfortunately, I know first hand that it does.

"It's been really nice seeing the response to the petition so far, but we need more. "We cannot let more young people die avoidable deaths due to dangerous driving, we must demand change. To put it bluntly, if these measures had been in place last year, Olivia would still be with us today.

"It’s impossible for me to put into words how utterly devastating it is to lose your best friend in such avoidable circumstances, at such a young age. I have made this petition because I truly believe that these changes will be able to stop others from having to go through what I have, I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone."

To sign the petition, go to: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/333041