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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National

Tributes to 'devoted' parents, in 30s, killed in head-on crash in Cambridgeshire

A man has been charged after a couple were killed in a head-on crash, leaving their two young daughters as orphans.

Robert and Paula Bateman, aged 36 and 35, died when their Ford Focus was hit by a van on a major road in Cambridgeshire.

Their daughters Lexi, 10, and 18-month-old Elizabeth were also in the car when it crashed just after 8pm on Thursday.

Elizabeth suffered minor injuries while Lexi's were said to be serious but not life-threatening.

Both have since been discharged from hospital.

The loving parents will be missed by everyone who knew them, a tribute read (PA)

Luke Norton, of Nocton, Lincoln, has been charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, Cambridgeshire police said.

He also charged with one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The 31-year-old was charged late on Friday and appeared before Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, the force said.

No pleas were entered and he was remanded in custody until a hearing at Peterborough Crown Court on October 2.

In a tribute issued through police, the family of Mr and Mrs Bateman, from Manea in Cambridgeshire, described them as “utterly devoted parents”.

“We are utterly devastated by this news,” they said.

“Bob and Paula were much-loved friends to many and will be missed by everyone who knew them.

“They were also utterly devoted parents.”

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