Tributes after mum of crash victim aged six dies

Tributes have been paid to a woman who has died 18 months after her six-year-old son was killed in a crash.

A man was jailed for 18 years for causing the deaths of Leo Painter and two women in a collision on the A44 near Worcester while under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

A GoFundMe page created this month, which has raised more than £2,800, said Leo's mother Gemma died on 30 June this year.

A family social media tribute shared on the page said: "I hope you have found that peace now that I know you were so desperate for."

The tribute also said: "I'm absolutely heartbroken but I know you just couldn't stay without Leo, he needed you more.

"Go and find your little boy and play together for eternity.. I'm sure he was waiting at those pearly gates for you.. no one can ever separate you again.

"I will always treasure our times together and the memories we made."

Courtney Hemming, 26, and Claire Adkins, 39, died at the scene of the crash in February 2024, and Leo passed away shortly after arriving at hospital

Joe-Lewis Tyler, of no fixed address, had been driving a BMW 3 Series on 22 February at about 90mph in a 50mph area on a wet afternoon.

Tyler admitted three counts of causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed in August last year.

His sentence also accounted for his pleading guilty to one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and three counts of causing death whilst driving without insurance.

As he drove down the A44, he crashed into a white Ford Mondeo carrying the victims, who had just left Leo's school, Abigail's Place.

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