Family prepares to say goodbye to death crash daughter

A GRIEVING mother has chosen a white coffin for her 18-year-old daughter because "she is still my baby."

Kim Fields, 43, of Old London Road, is now preparing for the funeral, which still has to be fixed, and has told everyone to attend wearing Manchester United strips.

She said: "We want all her friends and family to celebrate her life by wearing the strip of her favourite team, no black.

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"When we are able to have her funeral we will meet at the Hare and Hounds pub and travel together to the crematorium.

"Afterwards we are all coming back to the pub to celebrate her life with a disco."

Jennifer died three days after her 18th birthday when she was thrown through the rear window of a red Rover Metro as it flipped seven times.

She was in the car with three friends from Hastings travelling along Beachy Head Road in Eastbourne when the accident happened last Sunday at 9.55pm.

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She suffered severe head injuries and was taken to the Eastbourne District General Hospital - the other three escaped with minor injuries.

Jennifer's family and friends rushed to be by her side when they were alerted at 11.30pm. Her sister, Kelly, stayed with her every second until she was pronounced brain dead at 6.20pm last Monday.

The crash site is now covered in flowers which her heartbroken parents, Brian, 57, and Kim, and cousin, Suzanne Tullett, 23, started when they visited last Thursday.

Mrs Field also released a single balloon, a gift between sisters.

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Sister, Sally, 19, said: "I gave her the 'me to you' balloon on her birthday and when we heard the news everybody signed it and mum let it go on Beachy Head. We are trying to find ways of starting to say goodbye until we can do it properly at the funeral."

When Hare and Hound partners Lisa Twyman, 22, and Becky Black, 23, heard of the tragedy they drove the family to the hospital and stayed till the end. Immediately, a collection began in the pub, cards began to arrive and Jennifer's pool cue was set aside.

Mrs Field said: "Jennifer was on the pool team and on Tuesday we played our first game without her."

Ms Twyman said: "We are going to put the pool cue in a case on the wall and the money from the collection is going towards a plaque in loving memory of Jennifer. She was very happy and outgoing and couldn't wait for her 18th birthday."

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The driver of the red Rover Metro was arrested and later released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Nobody has yet been charged in relation to the incident.

Police are still appealing for anyone who saw the vehicle in Eastbourne or who has any information to call 0845 60 70 999 quoting Operation Bering.

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