Hundreds gather for funeral of ‘devoted’ Brit mum-of-ten Miriam Posen, 50, who died in horror car smash
HUNDREDS of tearful mourners gathered for the funeral of a mum-of-ten killed in a high-speed motorway crash.
The grieving friends and family of all ages wore traditional Jewish attire and huddled in groups under umbrellas as they went to pay respects to Miriam Posen[1], 49.
7
Hundreds gathered for the funeral of a mum-of-ten killed in a high-speed motorway crashCredit: Gary Stone
7
Miriam Posen, right, pictured with her son IzzyCredit: Instagram
7
The grieving friends and family of all ages wore traditional Jewish attire and huddled in groups under umbrellasCredit: Gary Stone
7
Hundreds gathered tonightCredit: Gary StoneMiriam was travelling with six family members on the A26 motorway when their car was involved in a three-car collision[2] on Sunday evening.
Her husband Rabbi Shalom Pinchos Posen, 48, and two daughters, 19 and 16, were injured in the crash and raced to hospital.
One elderly woman arriving for tonight's procession and service in Stamford Hill, North London, said: "It does look beautiful."
The night began around 11pm outside the family home with speeches broadcast through big speakers given in what is believed to be Yiddish, prompting laughter and tears from the congregation.
Her children and siblings were mentioned in what became a sobbing speech.
The funeral car travelled slowly along Fairholt Road at midnight, watched in silence by hundreds of mourners who then dispersed quietly in different directions down surrounding streets.
Miriam was one of three people to die in the accident when three vehicles crashed on the A26 south of Lens in France on Sunday evening.
She was said to have died instantly.
Most read in The Sun
Her son, Izzy, wrote on social media on Monday: "My mother sadly passed away in tragic circumstances. She was young and healthy and full of the spirit of life. I loved her so much."
And last night he wrote online: "If you knew mummy or feel a connection to her, please join us in paying her our final respects."
He asked attendees to "respect the religious sensibilities of the community and our family by wearing appropriate attire".
Miriam, who was from an Orthodox Jewish community and married to Rabbi, was travelling with six family members when the collision happened.
Emergency services rushed to the scene following the crash on a section of the motorway where road works were taking place, between the towns of Neuville-Saint-Vaast and Thélus.
According to reports the family's vehicle was hit head-on when another car swerved in front of them.
Around 60 firefighters and two helicopters were also scrambled to the crash site to try to rescue victims.
In an update on Tuesday, a local emergency services source said family members of Miriam involved in the crash were "recovering well".
He said: "All were travelling in a minivan when the accident happened, and three were rushed to intensive care.
"Some of these lives were considered to be in danger at first, but this is no longer the case – they are all out of intensive care."
A section of the A26 motorway was closed off by police until late into the night following the incident at around 6pm on Sunday.
A spokesman for local emergency services said: "Three people are dead and dozens injured, including many children.
"A van with a British family of seven people on board was one of the three vehicles involved in the crash.
"A British woman died instantly, along with two others travelling in another vehicle.
"The other passengers – aged between six and 48 – were taken to hospital in Cambrai and Arras."
7
Friends paid their respectsCredit: Gary Stone
7
Three people were killed in the crash on the A26 motorway in FranceCredit: Alamy
7
References
- ^ Miriam Posen (www.thesun.ie)
- ^ car was involved in a three-car collision (www.thesun.ie)