Girl dies as car flips seven times

Jennifer Field, of Old London Road, sustained serious head injuries in the accident in Eastbourne on Sunday night and was taken to hospital where she died on Monday.

Her family suffered one final devastating blow - Jennifer's injuries were so horrific they were unable to fulfil her dying wish to be an organ donor.

Mum, Kim Field, also of Old London Road, said: "Being a donor gives you a small piece of comfort in a tragedy and we couldn't even have that. We can't even begin to come to terms with this."

Jennifer was travelling in a red Rover Metro with three Hastings friends when the car hit the kerb on Beachy Head Road at about 9.55pm and flipped seven times before coming to rest in a nearby field. It is believed despite Jennifer being in the back and wearing a seat belt, the force of the impact sent her through the rear window.

The alarm was raised by a member of the public and police found the severely damaged car. Jennifer, the male driver, 18, another male, 18, and a girl, 13, had left the vehicle and were found a distance away on Upper Dukes Drive.

Police called an ambulance at 10.24pm and an ambulance spokesman said when they arrived Jennifer was still conscious but had sustained severe injuries and was taken to the Eastbourne District General Hospital.

The other three occupants of the car also went to hospital but suffered only minor cuts and bruises and were released the same night.

The driver from Hastings was arrested on discharge and later released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Jennifer's sister, Kelly, 22, received the call and told the rest of the family but by the time they arrived at the hospital at midnight Jennifer had lost consciousness, never to be regained.

She died on Monday at 6.20pm with her father, Brian Field, by her side - the rest of the heartbroken family too distraught to stay.

Mr Field, 57, said: "When I saw her I knew there was no hope and I told the doctor she wanted to be a donor.

"A couple of hours later the coroner told us that wouldn't be possible and they turned off the ventilator. That was the hardest thing I have had to do."

Her cousin, Suzanne Tullett, 23, said: "I couldn't stay at the hospital any longer. It was like prolonging the agony of watching her slip away. It's hard to believe it was only last Friday we were celebrating her birthday in the pub and she had a great night.

"The pub has put together a little shrine for her and when we can have her funeral we will hold another disco in memory of her.

"She was so honest, sometimes too honest and always spoke her mind. And she loved kids and was always baby-sitting."

Mrs Field, 43, said: "We were so close, we even shared the same birthday and as soon as I got up she was always by my side.

"I haven't even been able to cry for her yet because I am trying to be strong for everybody. We have received so many flowers for her and she will be missed by so many people. She was a member of the Hare and Hounds pool team and was supposed to be practising that night."

Jennifer, who had four sisters and a brother and achieved As and Bs in her GCSEs at The Grove in 2002, had been planning to go to college in September to study hair and beauty.

Her sister, Tasha Field, 16, said: "We were hoping to start a business together. She was so happy, caring, lively and lovely. She was always the one to cheer everybody up. How can I start a business without her?"

Jennifer's parents and friends visited the scene of the accident yesterday.

Inspector Mark Armstrong said: "Police Officers from Polegate Road Policing Department are leading the investigation and working with colleagues from the Major Crime Branch, Forensic Services and Crash Reconstruction Unit to try to establish what happened and why they left the scene.

"This involves examining the condition of the vehicle, the road and weather conditions, driver behaviour, motives for not remaining with the car or calling for assistance and any other factors that may have caused or contributed to the crash.

"These are the standard lines of enquiry and it is too early in the investigation to make inferences or prove any offences against any individual. No other vehicles were involved.'

Police are anxious to speak to anyone who thinks they may have seen the vehicle being driven on Beachy Head Road.

They also now believe the car was driven along Eastbourne seafront some time between 8.30pm and 9.45pm last Sunday prior to the crash.

Anyone with information can contact the investigation team by phoning the police on 0845 60 70 999 and quoting Operation Bering.