A PROMISING young student has been killed and his girlfriend left fighting for her life after a horror car-crash.
Besotted couple Jack Chan and his girlfriend Emily Chan, both 18, were travelling in his blue Mazda car when it left the road and crashed head on into a tree on Frogston Road West in Edinburgh at 9.45pm on Tuesday night.
The accident happened just yards from Miss Chan’s family home in the Mortonhall area of the city.
It was thought the teenagers were heading to a friend’s house nearby.
Respects
Scores of family and friends of the promising university students arrived at the crash scene today to pay their respects to tragic Jack.
His mother, father and grandmother erected a shrine which included pictures, teddy bears and other mementoes in tribute to their lost son.
Matthew Chan, 22, paid tribute to his younger brother who was studying information technology at Edinburgh Napier University.
He said: “As a family we cannot believe what has happened.
“Jack was such a careful driver. He met Emily only a few months ago but the two of them were totally besotted with each other.
“They would see each other almost every day, and when they were not together they were texting each other all the time.
“They loved each other so much.”
He added: “My mum and dad are just devastated and keep asking me ‘why him?’ – but I don’t have an answer for them.
“They were only going to a friend’s house nearby.
“I think the awful weather conditions might have had a part to play.
“I can’t believe it.”
The accident happened as torrential rain accompanied by thunder and lightning struck the area which is prone to flooding.
Appeal
Following the accident the devoted couple were rushed to Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary hospital with serious injuries.
Jack died a short time later.
Emily, who had just started a fashion degree course at Heriot-Watt University, was understood to be in a “critical” condition.
Police said the accident happened close to Mounthooley Loan where Emily is thought to have lived with her parents.
No one was at their address yesterday.
A police spokesman said: “We are appealing for anyone who was in the Fairmilehead area and witnessed the collision, or who saw the blue Mazda being driven in the area before the collision took place, to contact police immediately.
“Anyone else who has any information that can assist our enquiries should also get in touch.”
Anyone with any information was asked to call police on 0131 311 3131.
