THE best friend of a young mum who died in a horror crash has described the moment she broke down and screamed upon hearing the devastating news.
Amber Deakin, 18, was a passenger in a silver Vauxhall Vectra when it crashed on Baildon Road, near its junction with Pasture Road, during a police chase on the night of January 3.
Now, one week since the series of tragic events unfolded, her best friend Courtney Johnson has recalled the car drive which changed her life forever.
Courtney says she is still here today thanks to the fast-thinking efforts of West Yorkshire Police.
The incident left her with a broken shoulder and broken nose as well as a head injury.
Her heart rate went from 85 to 150 in a matter of seconds.
“She was only 18 years old. I got out and she never did," the 21-year-old told the Telegraph & Argus.
“I’ve woke up and heard someone screaming ‘Is anybody hurt? Is anybody injured?’. That must have been police who pursued us in the chase. I woke up from being knocked out. No one was moving the car.
“Amber was on top of my legs. I didn’t think about the boys. I just said ‘Amber’ straight away. I said, ‘Amber, come on, wake up, come on, wake up’. Normally she’d answer me. But she never did. I knew straight away. It’s a week today since it happened.
“I got pulled out. When I got pulled out, I got put in the back of a police car. My head was bleeding, they said ‘Come sit on the floor outside’."
She added: "They saved my life.
“Me and the police, we don’t have a good background together, but I can’t thank them enough. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have been here either. At first the police got us out. The car set on fire.
“The paramedics, the ambulance service, have done a brilliant job. I’ve changed my thoughts of them. That’s all I can say, thanks to the police and everyone else.”
Courtney and one of the male passengers were taken to Leeds General Infirmary, while the others went to Bradford Royal Infirmary.
“The police officer told me [about Amber's death] and I just screamed," Courtney said.
"I broke down.”
The crash has taught her some invaluable life lessons.
In a message to others, she said: “Never get in an overloaded car. Whatever anyone says to you.
“Always wear a seatbelt.
“I knew that stuff happened to my mates that changed their lives forever. Everyone was like, ‘Your life changes in a second’. I thought it was just a saying."
Balloon release for Amber Deakin
It comes after more than 100 people paid their respects to Amber in City Park.
The skies above Bradford city centre were filled with pops of orange and pink as family, friends, and strangers reflected on the 18-year-old’s life.
One balloon was sent to the heavens as a gift from Amber’s one year old son, Junior.
“Amber was an amazing mum to Junior,” Courtney said.
“She made sure he had everything he needed, was always out at soft plays, visiting friends. Junior was Amber’s world, as she always said to me.
“She was my best friend, my idol.
“There was over 100 people there. It was the first thing we’ll do before the funeral. It just shows everyone how much she’ll be missed and remembered. We let a balloon off for Junior.
“It was very emotional, so many people loved and cared for her.”
She added: “Because we dropped Junior off at her auntie’s before the crash happened, I spoke to her auntie myself about their loss.
"Her relationship with her aunties was amazing and very strong. They were always there when Junior and Amber needed them, I remember being at her flat. Her auntie Sam and Ang would always send treats for Amber and Junior, Amber loved her Auntie Sam and Angie as much as they loved her.
“Her mum and dad were there, her sister. All her friends from Bradford town. All my friends, her friends. It was a massive show. Some people turned up who didn’t know her. They’ve never met her but just heard about the crash."
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