Hi °C | Lo °C A teenager who died after being hit by a car outside Newtownards was a star pupil who had just received an award for his ‘exceptional’ GCSE grades.
Ben Reid (17), from Donaghadee, Co Down, was walking back from a Halloween party when he was knocked down on the Comber Road dual carriageway in the early hours of yesterday morning.
It is understood he had been walking with a friend, who escaped injury.
Tributes flooded into social networking sites dedicated to the teenager, who was described as a much-loved and talented AS student.
Ben was a pupil of Regent House Grammar School, Newtownards, where he was studying maths, physics, chemistry and |biology. Headmaster Trevor |McCavery said he had done |“exceptionally well” in his GCSEs this summer — achieving eight A grades — and had last week been given an award from the school to recognise his achievement.
“He was a very capable pupil, very well mannered and enthusiastic about his work,” said Mr McCavery. “He was a very pleasant and mature young man, who will be greatly missed by his teachers and friends.”
A counselling service has been set up in the school for pupils to help deal with the sudden loss of their friend. It will begin next week, when pupils return from half-term holidays.
“His friends have been in the school, they have very fond memories of him, they were reminding each other of their memories of him,” said Mr McCavery. “He was very popular, very likeable, and had a wide circle of friends, who are very loyal to each other.”
Mr McCavery said he had spoken to Ben’s father Jim, who he said was “naturally very upset”.
It is understood Ben’s mother died in 2010 from a sudden illness.
He is survived by his brother Philip and girlfriend Rachel Daly.
A Facebook page has been set up in Ben’s memory.
The page, RIP Ben Reid, had received 2,401 ‘likes’ by yesterday evening, and nearly 50 people had left personal tributes to the teenager. One post read: ‘You were an amazing guy and will never be forgotten by your friends. You were loved by everyone. You were too young to leave us.’
Anyone who was in the area between 12.30am and 1.15am and witnessed the accident, or saw two youths walking towards Newtownards, are asked to contact police.
