‘Sleep tight angels:’ Family of mother, 25, and her five-year-old daughter killed after being ‘hit by drink and drug driver’ as they crossed the road pay heartbreaking tribute …
- Destiny Harrison, 25, and Linnea, five, died after sustaining ‘serious injuries’
The family of a ‘doting’ mother and her five-year-old daughter who died together after being knocked down by a suspected drink and drug driver have paid a heartbreaking tribute to the pair.
Destiny Harrison, 25, and her daughter Linnea Harrison, were both struck by a Nissan Qashqai on Victoria Road, Plymouth, at around 9.44am on Sunday as they crossed the road.
They suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital where they sadly died later that day.
A 74-year-old woman from Plymouth who was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and of driving while unfit through drink or drugs has been released under investigation.
In a statement released today, the victims family described Destiny as a ‘strong young woman’ and said her daughter Linnea ‘never failed to make you smile’.
They added that the family ‘would never be the same without you two’, writing: ‘Sleep tight angels. You’ll never be forgotten.’
Linnea Harrison, five, who died in the crash with her mother, was remembered by friends as an ‘angel’
Destiny Harrison, 25, pictured with her daughter Linnea
Tributes have flooded in for the mother and daughter who suffered serious injuries in the collision
The family’s statement read: ‘It’s with heavy hearts that we announce the unexpected and devastating loss of Destiny Harrison and of Linnea Harrison who passed yesterday, together.
‘Destiny, a beautiful, strong young woman who was the doting mother to the larger-than-life Linnea who never failed to make you smile.
‘Our family will never be the same without you two. Words will never express how much we all miss you both.
‘Sleep tight angels. You’ll never be forgotten. We love you. Always and forever.’
Dozens of close friends and family members also laid flowers and teddy bears at the junction where the pair were killed today.
Braving heavy downpours, the mourners spent half an hour at the crash site where they hugged and tied bunches of flowers to metal railings.
A Gofundme appeal to help the family cover funeral costs raised close to £6,000 in the first few hours of going live.
One relative wrote on Facebook: ‘RIP angels. No words at all can describe how we are all feeling today.
‘Both of you didn’t deserve this and I miss you so much already. Wish there was a time machine to turn back time and bring you back. To us until we meet again. Now rest easy, love you more than I can describe.’
Floral tributes left at the scene of the collision
A five-year-old girl and a woman sadly died of their injuries later in hospital
Posting pictures of the pair, he added: ‘When you realise tomorrow is never promised, every ‘today’ is cherished.
‘So please everyone hug your loved ones, call your loved ones and everyone you hold close.
‘Because it may be your last time.’
Destiny’s brother, Orin, has started a GoFundMe page to help pay for the funerals.
It reads: ‘Hi everyone I’m trying my to raise as much funds as possible for my sister and nieces funeral, who both sadly lost their lives on the 24/03/24 in a car accident in Plymouth.
‘We as a family ain’t got a lot of money just have enough to get by.
‘And now with this we don’t know how we will get the send off these 2 beautiful girls deserve anything helps and we as a family appreciate everyone’s lovely messages and donations money raised will be used for funeral services themselves and everything you can think of that goes with that etc..flowers headstones x2 the service also thank you for reading.’
Other friends have also been paying tribute, with one saying: ‘There are no words right now. Wherever you may be Destiny Harrison I hope you are at peace and safe.
‘Life is so unfair. Rest in perfect peace my beautiful friend. Will miss you so very much.’
Another friend said: ‘I honestly don’t know what to say or do. I’m still in shock. I love you Destiny Harrison.
‘We may not have seen each other in a while but we have so many memories. Linnea I have seen you grow form a little baby and I’m so sorry you were taken from your family so young.’
Another picture of floral tributes left at the scene of the collision on the ‘death trap’ road
Another friend of Mrs Harrison added: ‘My heart is absolutely broken. I never got the chance to thank you for letting me bond with Linnea.
‘I never got a chance to thank you for being there for me when things were tough.
‘It breaks me even more to think you only messaged me a few hours previous still trying to be there.
‘We went through so much together. I will cherish all the laughs, all the gossips. You had a beautiful soul. Rest in peace beautiful girls.’
The collision took place in a residential area that directly connects to the A38 dual carriageway.
She has since been released from custody but remains under investigation.
One resident who lives opposite said: ‘It’s just horrific. Cars treat it like a racetrack and just speed over the brow of the hill without a thought.’
A nearby shopkeeper added: ‘There are often smaller crashes up there and It’s a wonder there’s not been anything like this before.
‘It’s terrifying and a death trap when all the kids are coming and going from school and they have to cross the road.’
A tribute left at the scene reads: ‘Can’t believe it, I’ve known you for 12 years and just like that[5] you’ve been taken away. Heart goes out to your family, rest in peace.’
Another said: ‘My heart goes out to the people involved. It is just heartbreaking. That poor little girl and her mum.’
Another said: ‘This is absolutely heartbreaking. To lose two lives in this way is just incomprehensible.
‘That little girl should be tucked up in bed tonight, dreaming of school, her mummy downstairs with a cuppa. I can’t begin to imagine.’
An officer is pictured at the scene on Sunday while police carried out their investigation
Police at the scene of the road accident on Sunday, March 24
Sgt Troy Bennett, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘Specialist officers from the Serious Collisions Investigation Team are investigating the circumstances of this tragic collision.
‘We would urge anyone with any information or footage from dashcams or doorbells to contact us.’
South Western Ambulance Service sent three ambulances, two air ambulances and a rapid response vehicle to the area.
A spokeswoman for South Western Ambulance Service said: ‘We received a 999 call at 9.44am Sunday 24 March regarding an incident in Plymouth.
‘We dispatched three double-crewed land ambulances, two air ambulances, two Operations Officers and a rapid response vehicle.’
Sergeant Steve Hawkins from Devon and Cornwall Police said: ‘Police received a call at around 9.45am reporting that a vehicle had collided with two pedestrians – a female and a child – and that there was a serious injury involved.
‘We’ve attended the scene along with fire and ambulance and very tragically a young five-year-old child and a female have since died as a result of this collision.’
A spokesperson for the force told MailOnline today that a 74-year-old woman from Plymouth who was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and of driving while unfit through drink or drugs has been released under investigation.
Police are asking for any witnesses to contact them with information or dashcam footage quoting log 240 of March 24th.
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References
- ^ Frankie Elliott (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Matt Drake (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Ben Endley (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Natasha Anderson (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ and just like that (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Alcohol (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ And Just Like That… (www.dailymail.co.uk)