Investigation into crash that killed teen and pal
AN inquest into the death of a Derbyshire teenager who was killed in a crash after a day at the seaside has opened.
Jennifer Woodhouse, 18, from Alfreton, and friend Lara Meldrum, 19, were in the collision involving a Peugeot and a Volvo on the A158 at Hagworthingham in Lincolnshire, between Old Main Road and the Winceby junction, just before 7pm on June 17.
Lincolnshire coroner Paul Smith opened inquest proceedings on July 4. The investigation has been adjourned to a future date for a full inquest which will further examine the circumstances of the deaths. The coroner’s office said postmortem examinations have been carried out but conclusions as to the medical cause of the deaths are pending.
Ms Woodhouse, and Ms Meldrum, from Arnold, Nottinghamshire, were set to begin university in
Sheffield later this year. Ms Woodhouse’s family described her as: “a beautifully kind-hearted, hard-working, caring and empathetic young woman with the whole world ahead of her.”
Ms Meldrum’s family said: “Lara was a fun-loving girl whose kind and caring nature touched so many of her friends all over the country. We will miss her jumping on our bed every night to chat before we slept. We will miss her taking days to bring her washing and dishes down.
“We will miss her stealing our phones and taking random pictures without us knowing. We will miss her charming ability to get a lift to college despite having just been given money for the bus. We will miss her fake tan that made her look like a tiger loaf on day three. We will miss her so much.”
Shortly after the crash, people in the village spoke of their sadness at the deaths. Karen Tayles, 62, from DGS Quality Used Goods, in Church Lane, Hagworthingham, said: “I’m shocked to hear these two young women have been killed in this crash. What a waste of two young lives. It’s so sad.”