Driver fights for life.

Byline: By Chloe Griffiths

A driver was fighting for his life yesterday after a holiday car smash which killed two of his friends and devastated the Jewish community.

The 21-year-old Gateshead man, who is believed to be an Orthodox Jew, was on an outdoor activity weekend in Scotland with five friends when the smash occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning.

He suffered serious chest injuries and was initially taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, before being transferred to Newcastle General Hospital on Thursday, where he was in a serious condition last night.

Two 17-year-olds from London ( Simon Adler and Avraham Dov Patashnik (both corr)( were killed in the smash.

The boys, who were close friends and had attended the same class in Pardes House School, Hendon, London, where both were laid to rest in ceremonies on Monday. Both boys were Orthodox Jews and hundreds of mourners from the Jewish community descended on Golders Green to pay tribute.

Simon had hoped to become a rabbi and had been studying in Gateshead.

One other passenger was hurt in the crash and taken to hospital for treatment, while another escaped unhurt.

The accident happened when the 21-year-old was driving a Land Rover 110 in Aviemore, on the C38 Coylumbridge to Glenmore ski road, at 4.05am on Sunday.

It is believed he swerved off the road to avoid hitting a deer during a spell of heavy rain and strong wind.

The 4x4 careered off the road, toppled on to its roof and eventually came to rest against a tree.

The alarm was raised after firefighters from Aviemore received reports of a car overturned, and two crews from the village and one from nearby Grantown attended the scene.

The road, which is the only route up to the Cairngorm mountain ski area, was closed for most of Sunday morning while a full inquiry was carried out by Northern Constabulary Police.