Tributes for teen killed in fiery crash
Bystanders used a craft knife to try to release passengers trapped inside a burning car after it ran off the road in Christchurch, claiming the life of a teenage girl.
Tayla Alexander, 17, of Ashburton was killed in the fiery crash late Wednesday.
Friends and family members have paid tribute, describing Tayla as a beautiful and caring teen.
“I’m gonna miss you, Taytay. Although we can’t make any more memories together, know that I’ll cherish the ones I do have forever,” one friend wrote on Facebook.
Another said: “Rest in peace, Tayla. We will never forget you. You were a beautiful girl, taken too young.”
Emergency services were called to Summit Rd, on the Port Hills, about 11pm on Wednesday after reports of a car crash.
It is understood there were at least three other people in the car. One suffered critical injuries in the crash, which did not involve any other vehicles.
Witness Kevin Clark told the Weekend Herald the car had gone off the road and caught fire.
“People were trying to get the fire out with whatever water they could find.
“There was a group of people looking for a knife so they could help someone trapped in the car,” he said.
“I had a craft knife in the back of the car. I quickly grabbed it and handed it over.”
Meanwhile, family members of the dead teen are dealing with a fake fundraising page, purportedly set up to help pay for her funeral.
Relatives warned about the page, which has been set up as the “Tayla Alexander Funeral Fund” on a site named Go Get Funding.
“Do not donate. This person is
People were trying to get the fire out with whatever water they could find.
Kevin Clark
trying to take advantage of this tragedy,” one wrote on the post. The page includes a photo of the teenager.
One friend, who did not want to be named, told Stuff Tayla was one of the most “caring and loveliest girls” she knew.
“She put her heart on her sleeve. She’s going to be terribly missed.”