TRIBUTES have poured in for a 19-year-old female rugby player after she died in a horrific car crash.
Beth Branson played for Bridgewater and Albion RFC’s women’s team in Somerset and the club confirmed her death yesterday.
She was reportedly killed in a collision between four cars on the A38 last night.
Reports suggest she was a passenger in one of the car and died at the scene.
A further three people sustained minor injuries, with one taken to hospital then later released to recover at home.
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that two men, aged 35 and 28, have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
The latter was also arrested on suspicion of failing to provide a specimen.
In a heartfelt statement posted to Facebook, the club said that the young sports star had been “taken far too early” and sent condolences to her family and friends.
The statement read: “It is with shock and great sadness that we have learned of the death of Beth Branson.
“Beth has been a member of our Women’s team for many years and graduated through our girls and youth sections.
“She has been taken far too early at the age of 19 and the situation teaches us how unjust some situations are.”
Albion’s Director of Rugby, Geoff Sluman, added his tribute to the club statement.
He said: “This is such incredibly sad news, I would regularly see Beth at the Womens games at Womens training and generally in and around the clubhouse.
“She was always a lovely person and [a] great team member and club person. “
“She always walked around the place with a smile on her face even when, or I should say especially when, she was active on the rugby pitch with her teammates.”
He went on to say that many of Beth’s teammates wished to pay tribute to her, but the pain was too “raw” for them to do so yet.
Sophie Phillips, the women’s team’s player-coach, said: “Beth was a great player and a great friend to all at the club, whose bubbly personality rubbed off on everyone and would light up any room.
“I would like to extend our condolences as a team to Beth’s family and friends.”
