Thousands of pounds raised as tributes pour in for Kingswinford crash victims
Thousands of pounds have been raised in memory of the 21-year-old driver and two teenage girls killed in a horror crash in Kingswinford.
Nearly £5,000 alone has been raised for Lucy Tibbetts, one of two passengers who died in the incident.
Five people were in the Skoda Fabia when it crashed into a tree in Bromley Lane, Kingswinford, shortly before 9pm on Tuesday.
Driver Joshua Parkes, aged 21, 16-year-old back-seat passenger Lucy, and another 16-year-old girl whose family have asked for privacy were all pronounced dead at the scene.
Two other passengers, an 18-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, were critically injured and remain in hospital.
A Go Fund Me page has been set up by Lucy's sister Kaya and has so far raised more than £4,900 for her funeral arrangements and a memorial bench.
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The page reads: "As I am sure many of you are aware, my sister Lucy Tibbetts was involved in a car traffic accident on October 13 and tragically passed away. My heart, along with all of her family and friends, is in absolute pieces, Lucy we all miss you so much.
"I would like to try and raise some money to be able to give Lucy the biggest and best send off that she deserved, to be remembered by everyone and to be loved by so many more.
"I would also like to raise some money to go towards a bench in Lucy’s remembrance, of course the funeral and wake comes first and is our main priority but a bench is something that I know Lucy would want."
A fundraiser has also been set up to raise funds for the funeral arrangements for Josh – with a target of raising £3,000.
While a fundraiser has been set up for the other 16-year-old victim, whose family have asked for her not to be named at this time. The page, which has already raised £700, states the money will be donated to a "road safety charity, as wished for by her family".
A fourth Go Fund Me page, set up by Lisa Sutherland, will raise funds for the families of those affected and a permanent memorial. The page added: "I'm sure by now you've heard about the devastating car crash on Bromley Lane Kingswinford that took three lives and left two others fighting for their lives in hospital.
"Those families that have lost their babies, the two families with their babies in hospital are all going to be facing unexpected financial pressure.
"As a mother I knew I had to do something to help these parents, I want to raise as much cash as possible for wherever its needed, for anyone of those families affected. My heart simply breaks when I think about the pain and suffering that has come from that night and I hope to help take away the unnecessary financial worry so these families can focus on each other.
"Any funds left over will go towards funding a memorial for those who've lost their lives, a place where the hundreds of children who have lost their friends can go to, something to remember those babies."
A balloon release event is due to take place at the Dell Stadium, in Brierley Hill, tomorrow at 3pm, for the three victims and two teenagers fighting for their lives in hospital.
Statement
Meanwhile, tributes continue to be left at the crash scene, near the junction with Standhills Road. Dozens of bunches of flowers have been left next to the tree along with balloons, photos and handwritten cards.
West Midlands Police on Wednesday changed an earlier statement to say it was unable to clarify whether officers had been chasing the Fabia when the crash happened.
The force previously said officers had seen the vehicle but not spoken with the people inside or pursued it, before changing the statement to say "it is not known if there was any interaction with the Skoda" and that the role of the police car is being investigated.
A spokesman from West Midlands Police said on Thursday: "Specialist officers continue to support the families of all five victims, including the two who remain in hospital where their condition is unchanged.
"The police investigation into the crash continues."
Anyone with information is asked to get in touch with the police by calling 101, quoting log 4469 of October 13.
