The families of two teenagers who were killed in a crash have paid tribute after their lives were ‘changed beyond measure’.
On September 26 at 6.43pm, a white BMW 3 Series left the carriageway and ploughed into a lamppost on East Bawtry Road in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
Despite the best efforts of the members of the public, fire service, paramedics, and police, Jacob Patching and Jacob Skidmore, both aged 19, were pronounced dead at the scene.
The family of Patching has described him as a ‘loyal, hard-working, caring, and kind young man’, remembering his ‘contagious sense of humour’ and ‘love for the outdoors’.
‘Our whole lives have changed beyond measure in an instant, and the pain left behind is immeasurable. Nothing will ever be the same without him,’ they shared.
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‘We would like to express our gratitude to the emergency services and the wider community affected by this tragedy.’
The family of Skidmore added: ‘We would like to thank all that are supporting us through this time.
‘Jacob was loved by all who knew him, especially his work family at The Paint Factory, his girlfriend, and his friends.’
They praised his ‘great love for mending anything with an engine, as his mates know this well enough’.
‘He has left a big hole in our family that will never close,’ the tribute concluded from his mum, dad, brothers, and sister.
An investigation into the tragedy is ongoing, and police have appealed for witnesses.
Previously, South Yorkshire Police confirmed a man had been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He was released on bail.
SYP also said the BMW the boys were in was believed to have been travelling with a blue BMW 4 Series.
After leaving the carriageway near Worrygoose roundabout, the car crashed.
‘Our thoughts remain with the families, friends, and wider community affected by the loss of Jacob and Jacob,’ a force spokesperson said.
‘We are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision and urge anyone with information or footage to contact us.’
Anyone with useful footage can share it directly with police via the digital portal.
Any other information can be shared online, via live chat, or by calling 101, quoting incident number 817 of 26 September 2026.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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