Family’s tribute to teacher killed in Thai ‘hit and run’

Joanna McKiddie, of Newmillerdam, suffered fatal injuries when she was struck by a taxi outside a petrol station in Bangkok in the early hours of September 15.

Miss McKiddie had been in Thailand for around five weeks and was working as a reception class teacher at St Andrew’s International School in Bangkok.

An inquest opening at Wakefield Coroner’s Court yesterday heard Miss McKiddie and a friend had just got out of a taxi and were crossing the Sathon Tai Road when they were struck by a taxi.

Miss McKiddie suffered fatal injuries and her friend was seriously injured.

A 31-year-old man was later questioned by Thai police and charged in connection with the incident.

Miss McKiddie’s family travelled to Thailand following the tragedy and returned home with Joanna on Sunday.

After the hearing, they said the former Wakefield Girls High School student had travelled extensively and taught in New Zealand and Australia.

Sister Lisa McKiddie, 31, said: “She was a brilliant and creative teacher and she had a lot of empathy for the children she worked with. She wanted to be a teacher from being a very young age.”

She added: “We have had some wonderful messages of support from people she worked with all over the world and friends she met.”

Mother Julia McKiddie, 60, said: “We are devastated by this sudden and tragic loss of our wonderful daughter Jo. We have been greatly touched by all the wonderful tributes that have poured in from all over the world.”

She added: “We are very grateful for all the help the (St Andrew’s International) school gave us while we were in Bangkok.”

Miss McKiddie’s retired solicitor father Dennis, 69, said: “I’m amazed at how many tributes we have had.”

Her Australian boyfriend Voytek Zietara, 28, said: “I loved her more than words can say.”

West Yorkshire assistant deputy coroner Mary Burke adjourned yesterday’s inquest pending further enquiries by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.