Tribute paid after crash in Cambridgeshire claims lives of Bob and Paula Bateman, ‘devoted’ parents to two young girls
Tributes have been paid to two “utterly devoted” parents who died in a collision last night, leaving behind their daughters, aged 10 and 18 months.
The couple have been named by police as Robert Bateman, 36, who was known as Bob, and his wife Paula Bateman, 35, of Westfield Road, Manea.
They died in a head-on collision involving their Ford Focus and an Iveco Daily van on the A142 between Chatteris and Mepal just after 8pm on Thursday (September 3).
The couple’s daughters, Lexi, 10, and 18-month-old Elizabeth, were also in the car.
Both girls were taken to hospital and it was initially thought that both girls had suffered minor injuries. Further hospital checks have shown, however, that Lexi suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries.
Both girls have since been discharged from hospital.
The van driver, a 32-year-old man from Lincoln, was subsequently arrested on suspicion of two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, and driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs. He suffered minor injuries and remains in custody at Thorpe Wood Police Station this afternoon.
In a statement, Bob and Paula’s family said: “We are utterly devastated by this news. Bob and Paula were much-loved friends to many and will be missed by everyone who knew them.
“They were also utterly devoted parents. Bob was a much-loved son and father, while Paula was a much-loved daughter, sister and mother.”
Police confirmed that Bob was driving the Ford Focus at the time of the crash and his wife was one of the rear passengers. They both died at the scene.
Anyone who saw the collision or the vehicles in the lead up to it, or has dash cam footage, is urged to contact police via web chat or by calling 101, quoting incident number 478 of 3 September.
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