Crash death girl had accepted a lift home in stolen 4x4

13 April 2012

Teenager Samantha Clark died after accepting a lift home from a party in a stolen 4x4, police said.

The trainee legal secretary, 16, was killed when the Jeep Cherokee careered into a tree and burst into flames following a high-speed police chase.

Paying tribute to her, her mother Winifred said: "Sam was a loving daughter and will be dearly missed."

Flowers have been left at the scene of the crash in Plum Lane, Woolwich, alongside messages from family and friends.

One reads: "Sam, my baby daughter, love you. There is a piece of my heart missing, love Mum." Witnesses said the driver of the £25,000 vehicle hit a road hump at about 70mph in the early hours.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard confirmed that the silver vehicle was being followed by an unmarked police car with its blue lights and siren on. Officers pulled Samantha from the wreckage moments before the vehicle caught fire, but it is believed that she was already dead.

A post-mortem examination is due to take place.

Samantha, of Plumstead, was the youngest of three daughters. Friend Lily Jenkins, 16, said: "I was with her last night. We were round at a friend's house and we had no idea this guy's car was stolen.

"The guy who was driving it is a friend of ours and he offered to take her home."

Witness Fred Crimp, 69, told of hearing a huge crash as the Jeep ploughed into the tree.

He said: "It was the loudest bang I have ever heard as the car hit the speed bump. I looked out and I saw the driver smash into my car then he skewed off the road and hit the tree.

"He must have been doing 70mph when it hit. There was smoke billowing out of the car.

"I ran out and the driver was saying to police, 'Get me out. I can't breathe, I can't breathe.'"

The witness added: "The police arrested him and they tried to resuscitate her but there was nothing anyone could do."

Samantha was studying at Bexley College after leaving Plumstead Manor School.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has been informed about the accident.

Anyone with information should call the Collision Investigation Unit at Catford on 020 8285 1574 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

A 27-year-old man was appearing at Greenwich magistrates court charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

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