A YOUNG woman badly hurt in a motorbike tragedy has a broken neck.

Jade Boyes, 19, of Honley, was seriously hurt when she was a pillion passenger on a bike which crashed in Fartown on Sunday afternoon.

The biker, family friend Paul Davies, was killed instantly when his Honda Fireblade was in collision with a Ford Fiesta on Alder Street at its junction with Flint Street.

Jade also suffered a broken leg and underwent surgery to pin it at Leeds General Infirmary yesterday afternoon.

She has had a metal frame fitted to her head and chest to support her neck which she will have to wear for around three months.

Jade is the daughter of Chris and Anne Boyes and she has an el der sister, 21-year-old Jodie.

Mr Boyes said: “The X-rays have shown a broken leg and broken neck, but it looks like it is the bones in the neck and no damage has been done to the spinal cord.

“She will be in hospital for around two weeks, but will have to wear the metal cage for around three months so it is going to be a long recovery.’’

He has known Mr Davies for around five years and Jade loved to ride pillion on his Fireblade.

“He was a popular guy who lived for biking,’’ said Mr Boyes.

The first he knew of the tragedy was at 6pm on Sunday when the family had a phone call from the casualty department at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

“The staff said Jade had been in a bike accident and we had to go straight up to the hospital,’’ said Mr Boyes. “She’s very tearful, but under the circumstances not doing too bad.’’

Mr Davies, 42, and Jade had been on a bike ride to Sherburn-in-Elmet and had almost reached his home Ashbrow Road in Sheepridge .

Jade had left her car at his house and was going to drive back to Honley.

Mr Davies is now on the memorial website Gone Too Soon set up by Huddersfield Examiner columnist Terry George.

Skye Hartley, who has put him on the site, said: “Paul was a loving and caring man and will be greatly missed by family and friends. He will leave family and his many friends heartbroken.’’

He worked at a foundry in Leeds.

Jade, who was 19 on January 21, was educated at Honley High and now works in the packing department at Wooldale ski and outdoor clothing company Outdoor Mania.

Police yesterday appealed for vital witnesses to come forward.

They are keen to trace a car which turned right out of Flint Street and went down Alder Street towards Hillhouse immediately after the crash.

They also want to talk to a pedestrian seen standing at the entrance to Able Fuels next to the collision scene.

The witnesses and anyone with information should contact Pc Andy Fitzpatrick at Huddersfield traffic police on 01484 436847.