THREE men killed in a horror crash when their car plunged into an icy river amid treacherous weather conditions have been named.
The trio were “loving” footie fan Scott Thomas Daddy, Leslie Forbes, and Kenneth Patrick Hibbins – known as Patrick.
PAThree men have died after a 4×4 became trapped in the River Esk[/caption]
North Yorkshire PoliceScott Thomas Daddy, from Hull, was one who passed away[/caption]
North Yorkshire PoliceLeslie Forbes also died in the horror incident[/caption]
North Yorkshire PoliceKenneth Patrick Hibbins was the third man to have tragically lost his life[/caption]
The 4×4 vehicle they were travelling in plunged into the River Esk near Glaisdale on the North York Moors just before midday yesterday as Storm Gerrit battered the nation.
The vehicle was recovered from the river by the fire service just after 3pm but the three men inside were tragically confirmed to have died.
Another man who attempted to help those in the 4×4 was pulled to safety from the river just after midday.
The brave bystander said the trio were “swept away” as they attempted to cross a river in treacherous conditions.
A tribute to Scott, 28, said he was “a loving son, brother, uncle and boyfriend”.
It continued: “He was always helping others, 4×4, green laning, scouting and outdoor activities, passionate Hull FC supporter and a big circle of friends.
“He was taken suddenly doing something he enjoyed, but too early. He had a big future ahead of him. He will always be missed by his loving family.”
Leslie, 70, was described as “a loving husband, father and grandfather, who will be sadly missed by his family and friends.”
Patrick, 59, is said to be “sadly missed by all his close friends and work colleagues.”
Chris Ford, who lives nearby, said that the men were part of an off-roading group when they crossed a ford on Rake Lane.
The river, swollen by heavy rain, swept them away and carried them around 400 yards downstream, he said.
Chris, a firewood salesman, was called to the scene to help recover the vehicle with his tractor and found it fully submerged beneath the water, he said.
He and two others used tractors to pull the 4×4 on to the riverbank, he said.
Chris said: “There was a ford they were going over and they were swept down 400 yards.
“They were part of an off-road club. I went down with my tractor. There was a couple of vehicles – one parked up.
“You couldn’t see the (other) vehicle. It was 3ft beneath the water.
“I helped get it out on to the riverbank with three other tractors.”
Two other locals, Rosie and Andrew Dale, said they were with Chris when he got the call to help.
They said they saw several 4×4 vehicles pass their home in the direction of the ford shortly before the incident.
Mrs Dale said “nobody local” would attempt to cross the ford in the current conditions.
Cops have warned that localised conditions across the area are making driving hazardous.
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