Families of three teens who died in Marcham crash pay tribute

• The families of three young men who died in a car crash while the 19-year-old driver was inhaling nitrous oxide (laughing gas) have spoken out about how their deaths have impacted all their lives.

The family of one of three teenagers killed in a car crash in Marcham, Oxfordshire has described him as a "beautiful, bright and talented son, a dearly loved brother, grandson, nephew, and cousin."

Elliot Pullen, 17, died alongside Daniel Hancock, 18, and Ethan Goddard, 18 in the early hours of June 20 2023 after the BMW they were travelling in crashed into a tree.

The driver, Thomas Johnson, 19, has been jailed for nine years and four months for causing their deaths by dangerous driving after inhaling nitrous oxide and travelling at speeds of more than 100mph.

Elliot's family said in a statement: "He was funny, with a gorgeous smile, a cheeky glint in his eye, always well dressed, and such great company.

Elliott Pullen, 17.

"He was hugely adored by his younger cousins, who loved nothing more than to demand his attention, and he generously played endless games with them. He was always the most popular and in demand guest at regular extended family meals and the family has wonderful shared memories of their time with Elliot.

"Elliot had many passions including football, especially Liverpool FC, learning to drive with his dad, riding motorbikes, eating out, attending live events and spending time with his friends, who were so important to him. 

"Elliot’s great interpersonal, IT and team-working skills were a huge asset when applying for an apprenticeship role with PMC Retail, in Abingdon. His parents, Kate and Giles, will be forever grateful to the PMC Family Team, and particularly his line manager, Elliott Winskill, for the hugely positive impact they had on Elliot during the last two years of his life, which was incredibly enriched by being part of an amazing group of people who provided the opportunities for him to fulfill his potential.

"His PMC colleagues described Elliot as 'a bright, talented and well-liked team member, with an amazing career ahead of him who was adored and admired by his colleagues and will be greatly missed.' Following Elliot’s death, PMC Retail have become an important part of our family’s life.

"They have provided us with much comfort and support, honouring Elliot’s memory by organising a marathon sponsored walk and bike ride on behalf of the Road Safety charity, Brake, where they raised over £10,000.Along with our close family and friends, we were able to join Elliot’s PMC Colleagues to remember and celebrate his life just after the first anniversary of his death, which meant a huge amount to us.

"Elliot has inspired us to want to support the road safety charities who helped us following his death – and we have fundraised to support Brake and RoadPeace who do so much to support families whose loved ones have been killed or seriously injured in road crashes.

"As a family, we are also determined to find the strength to be able to join the other “Forget me not Families Uniting” who campaign, with the backing of Brake, RoadPeace and The Road Victims’ Trust, for Graduated Driving Licencing for young novice drivers.

"We will also look to seek support from the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and local MPs to encourage their support in this campaign as there is overwhelming evidence that these licences will save lives.

"Elliot lived his life to the full, and in the weeks before his death, he had been planning his upcoming 18 th birthday celebrations. He had also received his new passport, with plans to go away with his friends for his first overseas holiday without his family.

"We feel such sadness that he never got a chance to use it. We carry his memory and some of his ashes with us whenever we have been abroad, so that we can take a piece of him to the places and sites he never got to experience.

"Elliot should have had an amazingly bright future ahead of him, a life of adventures and seeing the world. It has now been cut short by this awful tragedy, leaving behind a shattered family who miss Elliot beyond words. 

"As a family, we have suffered the imaginable and really appreciate the outpouring of love shown to us over the last 18 months. We would like to thank everyone who has supported us and greatly appreciate the care and thoughts shown to our family, and we send our love and strength to Ethan & Daniel’s families."

Ethan Goddard, 18.

The parents of Ethan Goddard said: “Ethan, known affectionately as “Spud” was a fun, loving, kind, generous, caring young lad, always thinking of others, and getting the most out of life.

“He was a very loving, thoughtful son, protective brother of his twin sisters, caring grandson, nephew, boyfriend and loyal friend.

“He never complained about having to go to school and received a 100% attendance award for the “whole” of his time at Fitzharrys School, Abingdon.

“He was very committed to Tae Kwon-do for five years, working his way up the belts. He would get extremely nervous before a grading but always gave it 100% and didn’t let his nerves get the better of him.

“As he got older and became more independent, he started his first job as a paperboy for the Oxford Mail.

“Then lockdown happened, but he never missed a day! He always got himself up and out the door on time to deliver the paper before school.

“He would come home very excited when his customers left him a tip at Christmas and he would always write them a little card to say, ‘thank you’.

“He enjoyed studying engineering at Abingdon & Witney College, took his exams but unfortunately never learned how well he had achieved in them.

“He had an interview for a full time engineering role the morning after the accident and had laid his clothes out and cleaned his shoes in preparation.

“While at Abingdon & Witney College, he worked at Pizza Express, where he continued his hard-working ethic, loved his work colleagues, and talked about them fondly.

“Here he saved his wages to buy his first car. A Mercedes, his pride and joy.

“He will also be remembered for his many wild and wacky hairstyles from “surfer dude”, his bright purple/pink hair, to a perm!

“Ethan was loved so very much and made his family so proud of the young man he was turning out to be.

“His parents will always be so extremely grateful for making them the “Mum” and the “Dad” they so desperately wanted to be.”

Daniel Hancock, 18.

The family of Daniel Hancock said: “Daniel was a very much-loved son, big brother, grandson and friend. He had just turned 18 and had so much life left to live.

“He had such a big heart and cared deeply for his family and friends. He was kind, bright, funny, out-going; he could light up any room with his smile and laughter. Every day without him, and Elliot and Ethan, is a tragedy for all that loved them.

“Daniel died three miles from home in a completely avoidable crash.

“Please don’t be that driver who shows such disregard for their friends’ lives.

“Please don’t put yourself in the position of being a passenger of such a driver. Please learn from this, an opportunity that the boys were not fortunate enough to be given.

“The grief and sadness of losing Daniel is personal and belongs only to those lucky enough to have known him.

“As a family, we have shared a glimpse of our pain in the hope that it may prevent more lives being lost in such a senseless way.

“Daniel was truly loved and will always be missed.

“He was caring, generous and selfless.

“If the measure of a person’s life was by the impact they had on those around them, then his was a life well lived.

“His absence is felt deeply by so many people. He is irreplaceable.”

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