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Jack Bowers, 21, dies after crash in The Avenue (From News Shopper)
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Jack Bowers, 21, dies after crash in The Avenue
4:31pm Friday 13th February 2009
POLICE have confirmed that a 21-year-old driver involved in a police chase in Beckenham yesterday (February 12) has died.
Jack Bowers, from Eltham, crashed the car he was driving in The Avenue, Beckenham, at around 1.20am yesterday morning (February 12).
An unmarked police car was pursuing the vehicle at the time after it had failed to stop for officers.
Firefighters spent 40 minutes cutting Mr Bowers out of the car and he was taken to Lewisham Hospital with serious head injuries and in a critical condition.
But police have said that Mr Bowers died after doctors turned off his life support machine this afternoon (February 13).
Residents have described hearing a “god-almighty crash of screaming tyres, tearing metal and shattering glass” when Mr Bowers' car hit several parked vehicles.
Police had earlier tried to stop the car in nearby Copers Cope Road.
A police spokesman said: "The driver of the car pulled away at speed and officers followed the car.
"The officers lost sight of the car before locating it again about two minutes later, after it had collided with six stationary cars before coming to a stop."
The incident is being investigated by the Met police's collision investigation unit based at Catford.
It is being overseen by the Met police's directorate of professional standards.
Anyone with information should call Met police on 020 8785 8738 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Your Say YourShopper
ReeRee09, LONDONN says...
4:57pm Fri 13 Feb 09
your gonna be missed alot!
i know i'll never ever forget you xxx
ABCXYZ123, says...
5:06pm Fri 13 Feb 09
That said, what is being done to put a curb on youth crime once and for all?
Stories like this one seem to be appearing with uncomfortable regularity.
I would like to add that I had the pleasure of waking up this morning to find that the number plates on my car had been stolen overnight. The police told me that this is now a common crime as certain young members of the public like to switch plates in order to get away with paying for petrol.
Guess who has got to shell out £30 for new plates tomorrow. Yes, me.
ABCXYZ123, says...
6:01pm Fri 13 Feb 09
Just as the stealing of a car is known as 'joyriding', we now have another accepted term for a crime that takes the seriousness of the offence away and sweetens the bitter 'medicine' that the undesirables like to serve us against our will.
eltham, eltham says...
6:15pm Fri 13 Feb 09
mr2wheels100, Beckenham says...
6:47pm Fri 13 Feb 09
there mum, lewisham says...
7:34pm Fri 13 Feb 09
LNN, Chislehurst says...
7:59pm Fri 13 Feb 09
mr2wheels100 wrote:How sad.
Where are the 'Fallen Soldier' messages?
lack of intelligence really lets people like yourself down, no wonder our society is in such a mess, what hope have the younger generation got, if there's role models like you around. You seem to enjoy inciting anger.
It's Me again !, says...
8:09pm Fri 13 Feb 09
Stinker, Crystal Palace says...
8:54pm Fri 13 Feb 09
somebodystolemyusername, London says...
9:14pm Fri 13 Feb 09
I don't want to cause offence, as if you are his mum you have probably been through enough in the last couple of days, but as this is a news story people will ask the question.
jackscousin, kent says...
9:15pm Fri 13 Feb 09
jackscousin, kent says...
9:19pm Fri 13 Feb 09
ame GET A LIFE!!!
somebodystolemyusername, London says...
9:29pm Fri 13 Feb 09
I am pleased to see that this young man's death has contributed to other people's lives, but would much rather he had never lost his life in the first place.
jackscousin, kent says...
9:37pm Fri 13 Feb 09
Arronax, Chislehurst says...
10:35pm Fri 13 Feb 09
jackscousin wrote:Divy?
yes it was u n ur divy bum chums on here last night slating him on this.
Bum chums?
Oh god are you eight years old??
..oh and sweet Jesus would it kill you to type all the letters for words, this isn't a text message there is no character limit you tool.
Arronax, Chislehurst says...
11:03pm Fri 13 Feb 09
Frankly driving a car is easy, if you manage to smash into a car than your a poor driver...if you smash into several cars in a row than without a doubt....YOUR DOING IT WRONG!
Oh but yeah the police were chasing him, and if police chase you than obviously pulling over is completely out of the question right?
max never the min, dartford says...
11:11pm Fri 13 Feb 09
Katieee!!!, groveepark!! says...
11:16pm Fri 13 Feb 09
Arronax wrote:Did You Know Jack...???
People get worked up over this simply because most of the comments on these sort of deaths are all praising the offender for being "misunderstood" or some other self-comforting rubbish. Frankly driving a car is easy, if you manage to smash into a car than your a poor driver...if you smash into several cars in a row than without a doubt....YOUR DOING IT WRONG! Oh but yeah the police were chasing him, and if police chase you than obviously pulling over is completely out of the question right?
Jack Was A Lovely Caring Young Man...Who Simply Made A Mistake...Lets Just Hope No One In Your Family Makes Any Mistakes!!!
Jack Always Tried To Do The RIght THing...Stuck Up For People WHo Were In Trouble!!!
He Was Always The Light And Soul Of Any Party!!!
SomeeeTimeee In Mottingham :D:D
We Will Miss You Babe!!
Just Think Some One in your family may just need an organ that jack decided he wanted to donate!!!
Love You Millionsss Mr Jack Bowers!!!
Miss You More!!
Sleep Tight Gawjuss xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Arronax, Chislehurst says...
11:18pm Fri 13 Feb 09
ifoughtthelaw wrote:
LNN wrote: ifoughtthelaw wrote: My message got cut short before: I love how whenever this happens on here the comments from family are either - No-one has informed you yet that pointing out other peoples spelling mistakes does not give you an upper hand in a debate.
This is mostly due to people having spelling mistakes due to fast typing or by multi-tasking on the internet.
Just thought I should inform you as you obviously did not get the memo.
Arronax, Chislehurst says...
11:20pm Fri 13 Feb 09
oh and no I did not know Jack, why does that change the fact that he broke the law and died because he did something stupid?
Katieee!!!, groveepark!! says...
11:24pm Fri 13 Feb 09
You Small Minded Idiot!!!
He Broke The Law Correct...But He NEVER Deserved To Die!!!!!
Does It Matter If My Spelling Isnt Immaculate???
You Tosser!!!
Katieee!!!, groveepark!! says...
11:26pm Fri 13 Feb 09
LNN, Chislehurst says...
11:29pm Fri 13 Feb 09
LNN wrote: ifoughtthelaw wrote: LNN wrote: ifoughtthelaw wrote: My message got cut short before: I love how whenever this happens on here the comments from family are either - No-one has informed you yet that pointing out other peoples spelling mistakes does not give you an upper hand in a debate. This is mostly due to people having spelling mistakes due to fast typing or by multi-tasking on the internet. Just thought I should inform you as you obviously did not get the memo.Jesus, here we go, did you not see the smiley face in the first line of my sentence???..
Get a sense of humour, i was talking to ifoughtthelaw and my reply was touche.. nothing meant by it. Lighten up
LNN, Chislehurst says...
11:36pm Fri 13 Feb 09
Hmmm isn't technology great.
Let's Agree To Differ, says...
11:43pm Fri 13 Feb 09
You say you have lost 5 friends in a year, that is tragic and a sad reflection of the way youth 'live' their lives today. Maybe it's time to evaluate your choice of friends.
I am clearly a lot older than you but my friend are not dying regularly. I wonder why that is!
Katieee!!!, groveepark!! says...
11:52pm Fri 13 Feb 09
people all over the worl of diffect age sex and race make mistakes...maybe its about time you found something better to do with you time than sit on here!!!
You dont no me or how i live my life! yet i dont really care wat u think
you sad cow!!
like i sed lets hope u dnt no any one hu makes mistake!!
Rest In Peace Jack...:) xx
LNN, Chislehurst says...
11:54pm Fri 13 Feb 09
my main concern is for my two eldest children, 20 & 21, i dread them going out, they are law abiding and have never caused me any trouble, i would hate to recieve a phone call or a knock at the door confirming my fears, its a terrible world out there, my son has lost two friends this week.
Katieee!!!, groveepark!! says...
11:59pm Fri 13 Feb 09
LNN wrote:yeah but how do u really no they are law abiding??
Same here 'lets agree to differ' my main concern is for my two eldest children, 20 & 21, i dread them going out, they are law abiding and have never caused me any trouble, i would hate to recieve a phone call or a knock at the door confirming my fears, its a terrible world out there, my son has lost two friends this week.
lets face it you dont go out with them with there friends!!!
its horrible recieving that phone call believe me!! and there friends!!
sitting here writing on this aint gnnaa change da world and its problems Arronax....if your so concerened maybe you should put your time into somthing productive???
Let's Agree To Differ, says...
12:02am Sat 14 Feb 09
1. Drop your aggressive attitude and learn to respond to people without insulting them. After all I haven't insulted you.
2. Accept that people who break the law have broken the law. You will not be able to excuse them by saying their famill love them and are upset.
3. Drop the text talk you'll need to be able to write up full reports of incidents.
I can't imagine how you are going to arrest anyone. Are you going to pat them on the back and say never mind you just made a mistake on your way love.
Oh and by the way you don't know me so how can you make the judgement that I am a 'cow' when you don't actually know my gender.
LNN, Chislehurst says...
12:13am Sat 14 Feb 09
Katieee!!! wrote:True Katieee, but my daughter lives with her boyfriend and they have a mortgage to contend with and my son works hard, has a great girlfriend and they too are saving for a house, so as law abiding goes, i think they know right from wrong, its the other people that you have to worry about, the knife & gun carriers ect, thats my concern.
LNN wrote: Same here 'lets agree to differ' my main concern is for my two eldest children, 20 & 21, i dread them going out, they are law abiding and have never caused me any trouble, i would hate to recieve a phone call or a knock at the door confirming my fears, its a terrible world out there, my son has lost two friends this week.yeah but how do u really no they are law abiding?? lets face it you dont go out with them with there friends!!! its horrible recieving that phone call believe me!! and there friends!! sitting here writing on this aint gnnaa change da world and its problems Arronax....if your so concerened maybe you should put your time into somthing productive???
LNN, Chislehurst says...
12:19am Sat 14 Feb 09
Gypo, says...
12:34am Sat 14 Feb 09
Katieee give it up, ya got no chance. Try shelf filling at Tescos.
LNN, Chislehurst says...
12:39am Sat 14 Feb 09
maxie44, charlton says...
8:25am Sat 14 Feb 09
George Costanza, hm1962@btinternet.com says...
9:43am Sat 14 Feb 09
I saw the recovery team taking the wrecked cars away the next morning -they said that he had lost control of the car after hitting black ice and crashed less than 100 yards past the junction - for the record, the Avenue was still covered in black ice at 7am.
A stupid way to lose a life.
maxie44, charlton says...
10:05am Sat 14 Feb 09
George Costanza wrote:Just how did you get your information that he was driving at 80mph do you liase with the traffic police and they freely give out this information to you,as I work for the ambulance service and even we don't recieve this information
Sad as this loss of life is, the fact that he drove from Copers Cope Road in to the Avenue, crossing the main road (Southend Lane) at over 80mph,shows that he had little regard for his own life nor for the life of anyone else. The death toll could have been much higher if he had hit another car going across Southend Lane at that speed.
I saw the recovery team taking the wrecked cars away the next morning -they said that he had lost control of the car after hitting black ice and crashed less than 100 yards past the junction - for the record, the Avenue was still covered in black ice at 7am.
A stupid way to lose a life.
It's Me again !, says...
10:07am Sat 14 Feb 09
Are you doing a course at Bromley college ? If so then i know you!!
Just ignore the horrible comments on here, when you answer them the people writting get a buzz!
Sorry that you have lost another friend, no-one deserves to die xx
localcomment, Beckenham says...
10:31am Sat 14 Feb 09
It's Me again !, says...
10:43am Sat 14 Feb 09
localcomment wrote:Newshopper love this!
Firstly, my condolences to his family and friends. Secondly, it is beyond inappropriate to get into a slanging match over this - however provocative/ misunderstood comments are. There are clearly issues. This is neither the time nor the place to debate them. Emotions are running high. Family members and friends, understandably, feel the need to defend the person they have lost. Perhaps News Shopper can run a story on tackling crime seperately. That way it will avoid becoming so personalised and facilitate a more balanced debate.
Its all traffic to their website!
there mum, lewisham says...
11:34am Sat 14 Feb 09
Now let me tell you another fact , there was as young female driver drving at when she was flashed by a unmarked car she also didnt stop she rang 999 and was told to drive to a petrol garage and a patrol car would meet her there , they did and they also met the unmark car who tirned out to be a rapist , so my question to all the fact knowing people would you pull over at 1am in the morning after being flashe by headlights of a unmark car with plain cloth people in it
maxie44, charlton says...
11:49am Sat 14 Feb 09
there mum wrote:I totally agree with everything you have said, I work for the ambulance service and if I was in my own car and was being flashed by an unmarked car I wouldn't stop either
there seams a not of people who no the facts , Fact 1 Jack was not a joy rider nor was the car stolen , the police admit the so called chase didnt last more then a minute .
Now let me tell you another fact , there was as young female driver drving at when she was flashed by a unmarked car she also didnt stop she rang 999 and was told to drive to a petrol garage and a patrol car would meet her there , they did and they also met the unmark car who tirned out to be a rapist , so my question to all the fact knowing people would you pull over at 1am in the morning after being flashe by headlights of a unmark car with plain cloth people in it
Puff Daddy, says...
1:24pm Sat 14 Feb 09
maxie44 wrote:That maybe so, but would you drive at excess mph and smash into a half dozen other cars and kill yourself.
there mum wrote: there seams a not of people who no the facts , Fact 1 Jack was not a joy rider nor was the car stolen , the police admit the so called chase didnt last more then a minute . Now let me tell you another fact , there was as young female driver drving at when she was flashed by a unmarked car she also didnt stop she rang 999 and was told to drive to a petrol garage and a patrol car would meet her there , they did and they also met the unmark car who tirned out to be a rapist , so my question to all the fact knowing people would you pull over at 1am in the morning after being flashe by headlights of a unmark car with plain cloth people in itI totally agree with everything you have said, I work for the ambulance service and if I was in my own car and was being flashed by an unmarked car I wouldn't stop either
I don't think so. No doubt the truth will out when 'all' the facts are known.
maxie44, charlton says...
1:29pm Sat 14 Feb 09
Puff Daddy wrote:I probably would drive at excess speed if I was scared and I'm sure this young man was scared at the time and didn't delibratley smash into half a dozen cars and kill himself it was an accident and a nasty one at that as I'm sure you must know accident are what they say accidents
maxie44 wrote:That maybe so, but would you drive at excess mph and smash into a half dozen other cars and kill yourself.
there mum wrote: there seams a not of people who no the facts , Fact 1 Jack was not a joy rider nor was the car stolen , the police admit the so called chase didnt last more then a minute . Now let me tell you another fact , there was as young female driver drving at when she was flashed by a unmarked car she also didnt stop she rang 999 and was told to drive to a petrol garage and a patrol car would meet her there , they did and they also met the unmark car who tirned out to be a rapist , so my question to all the fact knowing people would you pull over at 1am in the morning after being flashe by headlights of a unmark car with plain cloth people in itI totally agree with everything you have said, I work for the ambulance service and if I was in my own car and was being flashed by an unmarked car I wouldn't stop either
I don't think so. No doubt the truth will out when 'all' the facts are known.
Brook, Deptford says...
1:31pm Sat 14 Feb 09
'Members of the Ministry of Miss information'
Puff Daddy, says...
2:13pm Sat 14 Feb 09
maxie44 wrote:Scared of what ? That's what from reading most of the comments on here annoys some people, others trying to find some lame excuse for this MANS behaviour.
Puff Daddy wrote:I probably would drive at excess speed if I was scared and I'm sure this young man was scared at the time and didn't delibratley smash into half a dozen cars and kill himself it was an accident and a nasty one at that as I'm sure you must know accident are what they say accidentsmaxie44 wrote:That maybe so, but would you drive at excess mph and smash into a half dozen other cars and kill yourself. I don't think so. No doubt the truth will out when 'all' the facts are known.there mum wrote: there seams a not of people who no the facts , Fact 1 Jack was not a joy rider nor was the car stolen , the police admit the so called chase didnt last more then a minute . Now let me tell you another fact , there was as young female driver drving at when she was flashed by a unmarked car she also didnt stop she rang 999 and was told to drive to a petrol garage and a patrol car would meet her there , they did and they also met the unmark car who tirned out to be a rapist , so my question to all the fact knowing people would you pull over at 1am in the morning after being flashe by headlights of a unmark car with plain cloth people in itI totally agree with everything you have said, I work for the ambulance service and if I was in my own car and was being flashed by an unmarked car I wouldn't stop either
Condolences to the parents, but the rest of you get real.
melissa67, meopham says...
4:42pm Sat 14 Feb 09
mr2wheels100, Beckenham says...
5:40pm Sat 14 Feb 09
LNN wrote:Role model? Me? I would have stopped for the police.
mr2wheels100 wrote:How sad.
Where are the 'Fallen Soldier' messages?
lack of intelligence really lets people like yourself down, no wonder our society is in such a mess, what hope have the younger generation got, if there's role models like you around. You seem to enjoy inciting anger.
If he used me as a role model he'd still be driving around.
LNN, Chislehurst says...
10:34pm Sat 14 Feb 09
mr2wheels100 wrote:Great response..... not
LNN wrote:Role model? Me? I would have stopped for the police. If he used me as a role model he'd still be driving around.mr2wheels100 wrote: Where are the 'Fallen Soldier' messages?How sad. lack of intelligence really lets people like yourself down, no wonder our society is in such a mess, what hope have the younger generation got, if there's role models like you around. You seem to enjoy inciting anger.
Maybe you drive well, but as role model on writing pointless comments like above, i think you fail that one im affraid.
Freedom of speech blah blah, (ive added that to save you replying)
Adeola Adenekan, london says...
3:21am Sun 15 Feb 09
mr2wheels100, Beckenham says...
2:34pm Sun 15 Feb 09
Randy Mandy, kent says...
11:10am Mon 16 Feb 09
New Eltham, Eltham says...
11:14am Mon 16 Feb 09
SE7, Charlton says...
6:46pm Mon 16 Feb 09
I know his family are all trying to come to terms with this sad loss and if people on here cannot respect that then they are no better than the person they seem to think jack is.
my last parting comment, what goes around comes around, remember that when you next decide pass judgement.
LCC, Kent says...
8:55pm Wed 18 Feb 09
y he paid the price!!My cousin died last february nearly to be day off Jacks crash, he was in this newspaper, and he died in a car crash and it was because a STUPID person pulling his wheel....does that make him a bad person??? NO!!! please consider other peoples feelings when your loggin on here... you might be an adult messaging on here, but you obviously don't act like one considering the rubbish you just wrote..It makes me sick that people can be so heartless it really does!!RIP JACK i didnt no the boy but NOBODY deserves to die!!!!....xxx
Pete Beat, Dartford says...
7:47pm Thu 19 Feb 09
somebodystolemyusernwas he a traveller?
ame wrote:
Question to "there mum, lewisham" - are you the mother of this young man? If so, why are you to referring yourself as "there mum". If you are his mum surely you would be "his mum". I don't want to cause offence, as if you are his mum you have probably been through enough in the last couple of days, but as this is a news story people will ask the question.
shona66, Niles says...
9:18pm Thu 19 Feb 09
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Jack Bowers, from Eltham, died in hospital this afternoon (February 13)
Flowers have been tied to a tree at the scene of the crash in The Avenue, Beckenham
Mr Bowers was taken to Lewisham Hospital with serious head injuries and in a critical condition
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pumpkinpie, Greenhithe says...
4:55pm Fri 13 Feb 09