Hit-and-run tragedy devastates community FRIENDS and colleagues are today trying to come to terms with the senseless killing of devoted mum Paula Stead. Mrs Stead, 32, was on the pavement with her daughter, Bridie, 11, and 10-year-old niece, Danica Green, when she was struck by a Jeep Cherokee. It is believed that she was trying to protect the girls.
Mrs Stead, who worked as a cleaner at Vaughan and Associates Dental Practice in Merle Terrace, was making her way home with the two girls when tragedy struck at 7.20pm on Thursday.
David Vaughan, who runs the dental practice, said everyone at the surgery is stunned by the tragedy and their thoughts are now with Mrs Stead's family, especially Bridie, whom they got to know well.
"She would often bring Bridie in with her and the little girl would sit and read a comic or something while her mum was working. All we can do is keep our fingers crossed and hope she will be okay."
Mr Vaughan said Mrs Stead, who had worked at the practice for about two years, usually locked up between 6.30pm and 7pm and is believed to have had her niece with her as well as Bridie while she was working on Thursday night.
He said: "She had locked up as usual and started to walk home. Apparently, someone stopped and offered to give them a lift but Paula said because it was a nice night they would prefer to walk. It is absolutely terrible."
"Paula will be missed by everyone at the school, particularly in the kitchens where she was a valued, hard-working member of the team and by the children because she was always smiling with a friendly word for everyone.
"She will be a sad loss to the school community and worked extremely hard in the new school restaurant which she has been involved with since the beginning."
Flowers have been left at the spot where the 32-year-old mum and her daughter Bridie, 11, and niece Danica Green, 10, were hit by a Jeep Cherokee.
Police were today continuing their hunt for the driver who ran off after the smash at the junction of St Luke's Road and Front Road on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, detectives have confirmed they are making a number of inquiries in relation to a named suspect who may have been involved in the incident.
Superintendent Kay Blyth, from Sunderland police, said: "There will be extra patrols in the area over the next few days, but this is simply to reassure the community that we have their best interests at heart.
Gary Garland, IPCC commissioner for the North East, said: "Our investigators have undertaken a full assessment of this incident and at this stage it is clear that there are no concerns in relation to the actions of the police officers which would warrant a full investigation.
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