Family pays tribute to Ammber Fenn, from Rochester, who died in car crash on A249 near Sheppey Crossing
Tributes have been paid to a "fiercely loyal" and "always smiling" big sister who died in a crash. Ammber Fenn was driving her Kia Picanto Sittingbourne[1]-bound on the A249, near the Sheppey[2] Crossing, when it collided with a BMW on Friday, January 30.
The 33-year-old, who lived at her mum's house in Rochester,[3] had been travelling back from the Island after visiting friends there. Emergency services were called following the crash, but she was confirmed dead at the scene[4].
Three other people were also injured in the crash, including a man and a woman who were taken to a London hospital for serious injuries. The woman remains in a serious but stable condition in the hospital while the man has been discharged. Another male who was taken to a local hospital has been discharged.
Tributes to Ammber, who had one brother, Jay, and siblings, Tia, Rio, Zac and Ted from her father's second marriage, have been shared by her family with KentOnline.
Picture: Fenn family
Ammber last worked caring for Jack Dolan, from Chatham, who suffered catastrophic brain injuries[5] in June 2024 after jumping from Margate's Stone Pier and being knocked unconcious. She had also been a barmaid at The Bounty pub in Strood - which she continued to visit after she finished working there to see friends.
Her mum, Paula Fenn, says she "went into shock" when told by police her "best friend", who would have celebrated turning 34 on Friday, March 6, had died. The 54-year-old said: "Ammber was my best friend.
We spoke three or four times a day. "I go to ring her when there's something I want to tell her, and I can't talk to her. She has left a massive hole in everyone's lives.
"She loved her friends, her family and her four dogs - Harley, Cali, Misty and Tia - and was fiercely loyal to them.
"Ammber was caring and funny and will be missed by everyone she knew. "She was the eldest of her siblings and loved being the older sister. "Time is supposed to be a great healer, but it doesn't make things easier."
Ammber went to St Delce Infants and St Delce Junior schools in Rochester before attending the former Chapter Girls School in Strood.
Her dad, Darren Fenn, who lives in Snodland, says Ammber "will be missed" by her friends and family "every single day".
Picture: Darren Fenn
The 55-year-old said: "She wasn't just my eldest daughter, she was my friend. "We enjoyed spending time with each other and lived our lives to the full. "We used to meet at The Bounty for a drink, and those were really important times for us to share.
"She didn't have just one home but had homes as she belonged everywhere she went.
"We were so similar. We had a lot of the same friends, even though I was her dad."
He added: "The fact that she was so proud of her siblings made me and her mum feel so proud of her. She was an amazing big sister.
"She left an impact on everyone she met everywhere she went. "The family will always remember going to Alton Towers theme park, her visiting the caravan at All Hallows and our holidays in Turkey and Egypt. "It's very hard.
There are going to be events in the future, and she will be missed at them."
A fundraising page has been set up to support Ammber's family. Click the link here[6] to view the page. "She was loved by so many, and her loss has left an unimaginable emptiness in all of our lives...
The Bounty held a memorial event in honour of her on Sunday, February 1, and said: "Ammber was a beautiful young woman inside and out. "[She was] the life and soul of the party, always smiling, always laughing and always bringing light wherever she went. "She was loved by so many, and her loss has left an unimaginable emptiness in all of our lives.
"She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by everyone who had the privilege of knowing her."
Paula, who works in hospitality, added: "The memorial at The Bounty was really touching, and it was a lovely send-off for her.
Picture: Fenn family
"I would like to thank all her friends and my family who have been so supportive and really have rallied around me. "I am eternally grateful to everyone." An inquest opened into Ammber's death on February 27 at Kent and Medway Coroners Court in Maidstone.
Coroner Catherine Wood did not give a cause of death as more evidence was required.
The inquest was adjourned for a pre-inquest review to be heard on August 11.
Police are still appealing for information about the crash, which happened at around 11.20pm and led to the A249 being closed between the B2005 at Iwade and the A2500 for Minster for "complex investigation works". The southbound carriageway was reopened at around 2.45am the following day, with the full route reopened at around 8am. Officers from Kent Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) are carrying out inquiries and would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident or who saw the vehicles immediately before the collision.
They are also appealing for anyone with relevant dashcam footage to come forward.
Witnesses should call the SCIU appeal line on 01622 798538 quoting reference RY/DC/011/2026.
You can also email [email protected]
CCTV and dashcam footage can submitted via the public portal here[7].
References
- ^ Sittingbourne (www.kentonline.co.uk)
- ^ Sheppey (www.kentonline.co.uk)
- ^ Rochester, (www.kentonline.co.uk)
- ^ confirmed dead at the scene (www.kentonline.co.uk)
- ^ suffered catastrophic brain injuries (www.kentonline.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.gofundme.com)
- ^ here (kep.uk.evidence.com)