Pictured: Girl, 17, killed alongside two teenage rugby players after their car hit a tree in horror crash

• Sophie Bates, 17, died three days after the collision, which left two people dead
• Her heartbroken family described the teenager as “kind” and “full of fun”.
• Tributes were also paid to Dafydd Craven-Jones, 18, and Morgan Jones, 17.

Tributes have been paid to a “kind-hearted” young girl who dreamed of running her own business after she died in a horror accident which claimed the lives of two other teenagers.

Sophie Bates, 17, from Stafford, died from her injuries three days after the fatal crash in Penkridge, Staffordshire, on Saturday evening.

Driver Dafydd Craven-Jones, 18, and front passenger Morgan Jones, 17, both young rugby players, were killed when the Ford Ka they were traveling in crashed into a tree 60 miles from their home in Wrexham, North Wales.

Sophie, from Stafford, was sitting in the back seat and was seriously injured in the crash. Her friend is still being treated in hospital.

In a moving tribute, Sophie's family said: “Our Princess Sophie, the best big sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend to many, was so strong on the outside but truly so generous and caring on the inside. interior.

“Full of fun and more than full of spirit.

“We were very proud of the young adult that Sophie was becoming, of the life plans she was putting in place.

“Excellent at university and during her internship, full of motivation and ambition to create her own business.

“Sophie loved her friends and loved enjoying her teenage life and having good times.

“Our darling daughter Sophie will be greatly missed and loved forever.

“Forever in our hearts, 17 always.”

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A police spokesperson said: “His family are being supported by specialist officers at this difficult time and we ask that their privacy be respected.”

Floral tributes and messages have been left at the scene of the crash on Cannock Road in Penkridge, Staffordshire.

A Welsh flag was also attached to the tree where the accident is believed to have taken place.

Dafydd's family said he was “a beautiful soul”, while Morgan's family described him as “a very popular young man”.

In a tribute released by Staffordshire Police, Dafydd's family said he was loved by everyone and was “the baby of the family”.

Their statement read: “He was a magnificent soul, a wonderful son, brother, uncle, grandson and family member to all who knew him.

“Dafydd was the kindest and most loving person anyone could wish to meet, he had his own unique ways and was different from everyone else.

“Everyone loved him, the baby of the family.

“Daf would do anything for anyone, even if he complained if he had to clean his room.

“He loved his friends more than life itself and, disastrously, this led to his premature departure from this world while helping a friend on that terrible night.

“We can take comfort in knowing that Dafydd would always go out of his way to help his friends.

“We just want to thank his friends for all the wonderful messages and memories they shared of him and for the fact that his short life was filled with so much love and happiness.

“We ask that our privacy be respected during this sad time. But we thank everyone for their kind messages of support.

Dafydd was a student at Ellesmere College, an exclusive private school in Shropshire where tuition fees can reach £40,635.

In a statement on social media, the school's acting headteacher Vicky Pritt-Roberts paid tribute to Dafydd.

She said: “Staff, students, parents and governors at Ellesmere College are shocked and immensely saddened to learn of the tragic death of our year 13 student, Dafydd Craven-Jones.

“He was a well-known and respected member of the school community. His great enthusiasm and caring and caring nature towards his friends made him a very special person and he will be greatly missed by all.

Morgan's family said he was a talented sportsman, a “kind, caring and loving young man” – and “very proud of”.

Their statement read: “Our beloved son and grandson, Morgan, was a kind, caring and loving young man of whom we were so proud.

“He was an outdoorsman who excelled at rugby, cricket, horse riding and show jumping.

“He will be sadly missed by his entire rugby, cricket and equestrian family, as well as his family and friends.

“He was passionate about farming and had secured a place at an agricultural school. He was a very popular young man and loved by everyone.

“We will forever miss you, Mom, Dad, Taid and Aunt.”

Tributes were also paid by Wrexham Rugby Club, as both boys played in their mini and junior teams and “made their mark on the youth team”.

The club said: “We are left with immense sadness and a deep sense of loss following the deaths of Dafydd and Morgan.

“They both played at Wrexham in the Mini and Junior teams and made their mark in the youth team.

“They were good friends on and off the field of play and the void they leave will not be filled.

“The club has been overwhelmed by the kind messages of support from everyone who knew them and from every rugby club in North Wales and beyond.

“Our thoughts are now with the families at this heartbreaking time and we offer them our deepest condolences.”

Sgt Richard Moors, of the Staffordshire and West Midlands Collision Investigation Unit, described the incident as “tragic”.

Police were called by West Midlands Ambulance Service shortly before midnight on Saturday and shortly arrived at the scene of the crash, involving a Ford Ka.

“Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the young people who tragically lost their lives and those who were injured,” he said.

Sgt Moors said specialist officers were supporting the young people's families.

He added: “We ask that their privacy be respected. A full and detailed investigation is currently underway to establish the cause of the collision.

Anyone who saw the collision or the vehicle before the collision can email [email protected], call 101 quoting incident number 813 of May 25 or message the police Staffordshire using live chat on its website.