Tributes have been paid to a mother and her 16-year-old daughter who died in a collision on the A421 while travelling to school on Monday morning (1 November).
Their car, a van and an HGV lorry were involved in a collision at 8am between the Black Cat roundabout and the A428.
Emma van der Avoird, 55, and her daughter Khiana, a pupil at Bedford Modern School, from Little Paxton in Cambridgeshire, were sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
In a statement, the family said: “Our family is overcome with sadness and grief at Emma and Khiana’s death in such tragic circumstances.
“They were both vibrant, strong and forthright people. Emma was on her way to take Khiana to Bedford Modern School, where she was a bright and popular student.
“Emma and Khiana were as close as any mother and daughter could be. Emma was a devoted mother who had poured her heart and soul into caring for Khiana since the sudden death of their husband and father Ed 10 years ago.
“Khiana was at the start of her life and was a beautiful and talented girl.
“We are devastated that they have been wrenched from us when both of them still had so much living to do.
“We will all miss Emma and Khiana dearly but take some comfort in the fact they have been reunited as a family.”
A man in his 20s from St Neots who was arrested in connection with the incident has since been released on bail, pending further enquiries.
Anyone with information is ask to contact police on 101 or via bedfordshire.police.uk/report quoting Operation Mabel.
Police would be particularly keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage that could help them with their enquiries.
