9:00am Monday 25th August 2008
By Julian Robinson
A HAMPSHIRE community is today in mourning after an 11-year-old girl and her stepdad died in a motorbike crash.
Terry Stubbs and his stepdaughter Channon were killed after the motorbike they were travelling on collided with a car on the busy A326 near Dibden Purlieu.
The double fatality has devastated a family and sent shockwaves through an entire Waterside community.
And as police today continue to probe the cause of the accident, council chiefs have called for an examination of the road's safety.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene on Saturday morning as the full horror of the crash unfolded.
Traffic came to a standstill as an air ambulance landed on the road, near Beaulieu Road roundabout. But the pair had died at the scene and the driver of the Toyota Corolla car was rushed to Southampton General Hospital with serious injuries.
The female driver's condition is unknown.
Yesterday, dozens of griefstricken friends and relatives arrived at the tragic spot to lay flowers and tributes.
Tearful pals of Channon and Terry comforted each other by the side of the road as they struggled to come to terms with what had happened the day before.
Some left cuddly toys while another left a copy of one of Channon's favourite CDs.
A constant stream of friends and relatives pulled up in the lay-by opposite to pay their respects and leave heartfelt messages.
One card read simply: "You did not deserve to die and I am thinking about you every minute."
Another said: "Dear Channon, we will be missing you always and you will remain in our hearts for ever."
The Daily Echo understands that the 11-year-old had just finished at Cadland Primary School and was about to enrol at Hardley School in September.
Friends said she was a "sweet and happy" girl who liked music and was a popular face around Fawley where the family lived.
Her mum Nicole was too devastated to speak last night.
Alexis McEvoy, New Forest District councillor for Fawley, said residents were in shock at news of the double death.
She told the Daily Echo: "It is yet another terrible tragedy that has hit the community and everybody is devastated by it.
"For such a young girl to lose her life is just too terrible to speak of. I just send my deepest sympathy and condolences to the mum, brother, family and friends and hope in time they can come to terms with it."
The tragic incident has led to calls for the stretch of road, nicknamed the longest, busiest cul-de-sac in Hampshire, to be changed from a single to a dual carriageway.
Dibden Purlieu councillor Malcolm Wade sent his condolences to those families involved and said he believed action should be taken to make the well-used road safer.
He said: "It is a very sad and tragic accident and unfortunately there have been a number of accidents along this stretch of road because it is so well used.
"If we want to make it really safe we need to look at putting in better crossing points and making the road a dual carriageway."
Police are continuing to appeal for the driver of a lorry to come forward who they say directly witnessed the incident.
Anyone with information should contact police on 0845 045 4545.
Anyone who witnessed the collision should contact Totton Roads Policing Unit on 0845 045 45 45.
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