FOUR Essex University students who were killed in a horrific car crash have been remembered by family, friends, and teammates one year on from the tragedy.
Eva Darold-Tchikaya, 21, Daljang Wol, 22, Makyle Bayley, 22, and TJ Hibbert, 24, died in the early hours of February 1 last year when the car they were travelling in crashed into Dusty’s second-hand store in Magdalen Street, Colchester.
About 40 people travelled by coach to Colchester on Saturday and congregated at the site of the tragedy to lay flowers, say prayers, and sing Christian hymns in memory of the four students.
The solemn mood was summed up by the quiet and dignified vigil which mourned the loss of young people whose lives had hope, dreams, and potential.
Essex Rebels, the university basketball team which Daljang, Makyle, and TJ played for, held a tribute ahead of the team’s match against Bristol Flyers on Saturday evening.
The stadium announcer said: “DJ and TJ were integral members of last season’s Rebels Division 1 men’s team, leaving a lasting impact both on and off the court and within the wider basketball community.
“They were bright, talented, caring individuals with a deep passion for the game and a constant source of joy, always bring energy, laughter, and life to those around them.
“Eva was a talented dancer and proud member of the Essex Blades dance team, performing at Rebels games and dance competitions across the country.
“She brought passion, positivity, and an infectious energy into every space she entered.
“Makyle, a former Rebels player, represented the club during the 2022 and 2023 Division 2 season, and remains a valued part of Rebels history.
“His life, warmth, and memory touched all who knew him.
“TJ, DJ, Eva, and Makyle were four remarkable people who brought dedication, talent and kindness to our community.
“While they are no longer with us, their presence continues to be felt in this arena, across our campus, and within the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing them, as well as in the memories that will be carried forward.
“Today we don’t just remember what was lost – we celebrate who they were, the love they shared, and the legacy they leave behind.
“They will always remain a part of us.”
The crowd then watched a video montage of the four students before standing and applauding for 24 seconds – which is the length of time basketball teams have after gaining possession to attempt a shot.
Essex Rebels won the match 115-43.
How did the tragedy unfold?
Eva Darold-Tchikaya, Daljang Wol, Makyle Bayley, and TJ Hibbert had been out in Colchester on the evening of Friday, January 31 of last year when they got into a Ford Focus in West Stockwell Street in the early hours of the following morning.
An inquest held in July heard how Mr Bayley, who was driving the car, was about two-and-a-half times over the drink drive limit.
The car was travelling between 88mph and 100mph in Magdalen Street, heading towards the Wimpole Road crossroads, when it clipped a traffic island outside the Aldi supermarket.
At this point, the car was about 122metres away from Dusty's second-hand shop, where it would eventually come to a stop.
The inquest heard the speed the car was travelling at meant that when it clipped a traffic island opposite an Aldi supermarket, the wheel shattered.
Mr Bayley then lost control of the car and hit another traffic island - outside a Ford car dealership - before then striking a brick staircase outside The Old Coach House.
The impact of that collision caused the Ford to rotate onto its side, with the passenger side nearest the ground.
The car then struck Dusty's second-hand shop roof-first.
Essex senior coroner, Lincoln Brookes, said there was "no possibility" of the four students surviving the impact of the crash.
He said: “I don’t know why the vehicle was being driven at such grossly excessive speed, and of course we don’t know what was going on inside [the car], what conversations were going on, and I am not going to speculate.
“But the driver I do find was intoxicated and therefore his ability to manage the vehicle safely, perhaps even at ordinary speeds, would have been diminished to some extent through alcohol intoxication.
“We do know, about 180 metres from the final resting point, his speed was about 94mph - give or take 6mph.
“It seems, not surprisingly, he lost control of the vehicle.
“There is no doubt to my mind, death was almost instantaneous - in any event, all of them would have been unconscious if there was any brief interval before death.
"There was no possibility of these individuals being saved - this was an irreversible situation.”
He concluded the four students died as a result of a road traffic collision.
Students were 'deeply cherished'
Essex University vice chancellor, Professor Frances Bowen, said DJ, Eva, TJ, and Makyle are still missed deeply by all those who knew them.
She said: “DJ, Eva, TJ, and Makyle were four deeply cherished members of our University and sporting communities – full of hope, talent and dreams.
“Every day their friends, family, classmates and teammates feel their loss deeply.
“The Essex Rebels celebrated their lives by bringing their families and friends together on the anniversary of their passing.
“We are encouraging staff and students at the University to reach out to our wellbeing teams at what is an incredibly difficult time for our community."
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