‘Wonderful and talented’ theatre student killed by car on night out in Deptford with friends

Miss Keyes was a first-year student of musical theatre
Met Police
Ben Morgan8 December 2017

A promising theatre student who attended the same school as choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne was knocked down and killed by a car during a night out with friends.

Laura Keyes, 19, was struck by a BMW on a dimly-lit stretch of road near her halls of residence in Deptford last Thursday at 10.15pm. She died at the scene.

Miss Keyes was a first-year student of musical theatre at the renowned Trinity Laban conservatoire in Greenwich, whose former students include Sir Matthew and musician Fela Kuti.

Originally from Derbyshire, she had taken a gap year before moving to London to study in September.

In a statement, Miss Keyes’s family said: “We are devastated at the loss of our wonderful girl and miss her terribly. She was so happy following her dream in London. We are overwhelmed by the support from family and friends.”

A card left with flowers at the accident scene opposite Miss Keyes’s student hall says: “Remembering our precious, beautiful, darling Laura — we miss you with all our hearts. We’ll love you always and forever. Mum, Dad, Emma and Liam.”

Her devastated friends today paid tribute to “an amazing talent” as police appealed for witnesses to the crash in Creek Road at the junction with Deptford Church Street.

One friend wrote: “Laura, your smile could light up any room and you never failed to make me laugh. Thank you for gifting each and every one of us with your bubbly, incredible personality and amazing talent that we will never forget and cherish forever.”

A spokeswoman for Trinity Laban said Miss Keyes was “a wonderfully talented and extremely dedicated student”, adding: “She quickly became a much-loved member of our close-knit community, and we will miss her warm heart, determined nature and wonderful sense of humour. We send our deeply heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.”

Witnesses today told of the “terrible accident”. Callum Henry, 23, a bar supervisor at nearby pub The Duke, said: “She was with a group of students walking near her halls.

“There was a large group of students outside when I got there. A few still had drinks in their hands. They were all very upset; they were hysterical and didn’t want to leave the girl’s side. This stretch of road is badly lit and there’s been a few accidents on there.”

A Met spokesman said detectives were investigating.

A 21-year-old driver of the car stopped at the scene and was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

He has been bailed until mid-December.

Anyone with information is asked to call the witness appeal line on 020 8285 1574.

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