‘Best of friends’ teens left for dead after motorbike hit-and-run

Three people have been arrested after a suspected hit-and-run crash which left two teenagers dead.

Jaydon Bowyer, 19, and Ta-Shay Canoville, 16, were killed after they were knocked from a motorbike they were both riding at around 1.40am on Thursday.

Police believe they were hit by a BMW, whose occupants fled the scene, leaving Jaydon and Ta-Shay for dead.

Heartfelt tributes to the pair, from Newport, Gwent, described them as the ‘best of mates’.

As the South Wales community reels from the tragedy, it emerged that three people have been arrested over the crash.

Gwent Police said a man, 18, and a woman, 40, have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Separately, a woman, 24, has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

As the investigation continues, police cordoned off Aberthaw Road, with forensic officers seen collecting evidence.

Gwent Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward immediately.

In the meantime, tributes continue to flood in from the local community and the wider UK.

This included a tribute from Jaydon’s mother Sophie Pederson.

She said she was ‘struggling to process the loss of you, my first-born, my whole world, my absolute everything’.

‘My boy, my darling darling boy. Why just why? How do I live without you here by my side?

‘You were the best boy ever. Everyone adored you. Love you millions always and forever, your broken-hearted mum.’

Jaydon’s hairdresser girlfriend Rachael Stephenson said she ‘never imagined I would see this day having to live in a world without you in it’.

She added: ‘It still doesn’t feel real, you were more to me than just a boyfriend.

‘You were my happiness and the person who made my darkest days feel light again. The pain of losing you so suddenly is something words could never fully explain.

‘We were meant to be till death do us part, with a happy family together like we talked about for hours.

‘We were meant to make so many more memories together, you were taken from us before your time came.

‘I wish I could have one more hug and to hear you laugh and see your smile one more time and to have one more moment with you.

‘You had the purest heart. I’ll love you forever, my gorgeous boy. Rest in peace, my beautiful angel, until we meet again.’

Both of the teens’ families are being supported by specially trained officers, Gwent Police said.

A GoFundMe page has been created to help the boys’ families cover funeral costs.

It has already raised more than £12,000 towards its target of £16,000 and can be found here.

A police spokesperson said: ‘Officers investigating the circumstances leading up to the collision would like to speak to anyone who was travelling along or residents who reside in Aberthaw Road and the surrounding areas to check their CCTV between the hours of midnight – 1.40am on Thursday 7 May.

‘An 18-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of murder, while a 24-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. All three remain in police custody.

‘Anyone with information – including CCTV and dashcam footage – is asked to contact us quoting log reference 2600141467.’

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