The driver involved in the accident which left Westbury boy Sam Puttick a quadriplegic has said she was "deeply saddened and distressed" by his death and his parents' suicide.

Mother-of-two Josephine Elias, 52, crashed into the car being driven by Sam's mum Kazumi near Mere, in 2005.

Sam, then just 18 months, suffered a severed spinal cord which confined him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

Mrs Elias' insurers later made a substantial compensation settlement to the Puttick family which enabled them to buy a £675,000 home, Wishing Well Farm, in Brokerswood.

Mrs Elias, of Neston near Corsham, issued a brief statement through her solicitor.

It read: "I was deeply saddened and distressed to hear of these terrible events involving Mr and Mrs Puttick and their son Sam. "My thoughts are of course with their respective families.

"There is nothing further I feel I can add at this time."

Sam was born healthy but crippled in the accident when he was 18 months old.

Kazumi was driving to see friends when their car collided with a Volvo travelling towards them.

Two passing doctors stopped and revived Sam but he spent months in hospital. Kazumi broke her legs and pelvis.

It is believed that no criminal charges were brought against Mrs Elias but her insurers later made a settlement with the Puttick family.

The mother-of-two now lives in a stone cottage in the village of Neston.

She is company secretary of chartered surveyors Hextalls in Bath, which is run by her husband Tim.

Sam's heartbroken godmother said her life has been "shattered beyond repair" by his parents' double suicide.

Cindy Stockting described the five-year-old as an "incredible child" who brought "delight to everyone".

She said she is struggling to come to terms with Sam's death from meningitis and the suicide of his dad Neil and mum Kazumi at Beachy Head.

Mrs Stockting, of Trowbridge, said: "I was Sam's godmother and related to his father.

"Sam was a wonderful boy in every way. He was an incredible child that brought delight to everyone.

"What happened that day is too distressing and shocking to talk about. But it has shattered our lives beyond repair."

Mrs Stockting, a former teacher at St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School in Chippenham, paid tribute to the "wonderful" family.

She said: "What happened in those few days was a tragedy on every level.

"The three of them were wonderful, precious people and will be sorely missed by all."

St Mary's School headteacher Steve Riley said he remembered Mrs Stockting talking about her beloved godchild.

He added: "She obviously cared about him very much. This is very, very, sad news indeed."

The tragic sequence of events unfolded last Friday when Neil and his Japanese wife Kazumi brought Sam, their only child, home from hospital to die.

Sam, who was crippled from a car crash in 2005, had contracted meningitis but doctors said they were unable to save him.

Consumed with grief, the couple drove their silver people carrier 150 miles to the famous cliffs of Beachy Head near Eastbourne, East Sussex, on Sunday, May 31.

They plunged to their deaths carrying two rucksacks - one contained Sam's body and the other was filled with his toys.

A website set up Sam's parents after the car crash, Stuff4Sam, has attracted almost 850 heartfelt messages of condolence.

Family members have added a new message to the site which reads: "Thank you all for your overwhelming love and support, all your kind words are greatly appreciated.

"Many of you have also asked where you can make donations. We know of no better place than Spinal Research who have now set up a donation page specifically to remember Sam, Neil and Kazumi."