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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Adam Dutton & Sam Elliott-Gibbs

Teenage best friends die in car crash on their way back from day at the seaside

Two "beautiful" teenage best friends killed in a horror car crash following a day at the seaside had just started their "summer of fun" ahead of their first year at university.

Jennifer Woodhouse, 18, and Lara Meldrum, 19, had been making the most of the hottest day of the year when they were involved in the fatal smash.

The collision between a black Peugeot and a black Volvo took place on the A158 in Hagworthingham, Lincolnshire. just before 7pm last Friday.

Police said the two friends were treated for their injuries but both later died and would still like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have dashcam footage of the collision.

Heartbroken family members have released emotional tributes to Lara, of Arnold, Nottinghamshire, and Jennifer, who lived in Alfreton, Derby.

Jennifer Woodhouse was described by her family as "force of nature" (Lincolnshire Police / SWNS)

The pair had been due to start studying together at Sheffield Hallam University in September and had been on a day trip to the beach when tragedy struck.

Lara was revealed to be a talented ice hockey player and played in the National League for Nottingham ice hockey club.

Pizza Express chef Jennifer was described as a "mental health hero" volunteer who was "beautifully kind-hearted" and "made the world a better place."

Jennifer’s family said: “Jennifer was a force of nature.

"A beautifully kind-hearted, hard-working, caring and empathetic young woman with the whole world ahead of her.

Sporty Lara Meldrum was a talented ice hockey player and a "fun-loving girl" (Lincolnshire Police / SWNS)

"She was our beautiful, little star. We are all privileged to have had her in our lives. She was absolutely hilariously funny with an intelligent sense of humour that never failed.

"She would be rolling around on the floor with her friends laughing at the silliest thing.

“She had a deeply rooted sense of morals and principles and lived by what she believed.

"She just loved people and above all she believed in and championed all of her family, sticking by them through everything, helping us all when we were wounded, caring when we were sick, advising us through our turmoil and always making us laugh and smile.

"She loved her brother more than life itself and he was fiercely protective of her.

"They had the most beautiful bond and although they could annoy each other if anything happened it would be them against the world.

"She was so thoughtful and spent time with her extended family whenever she could.

“She was a whirlwind of energy and would go from baking cakes, to dancing, to painting, to playing with her dog, Kevin.

"She lived life to the fullest and looked to the future, always planning, and saving for her travels or for her car, or for whatever she wanted.

"She was insistently independent, refusing help to buy a car because she could make it on her own.

" She loved dinosaurs and Crocs and shopping online, always waiting for a parcel. She could have been anything she wanted to be, she was so clever, so hard-working and so skilled.

"Jen loved working and earning her own money, she always did more hours than we asked her to do and her work colleagues became lifelong friends.

" Even before paid work, Jen volunteered at Barnardos where she worked every week making friends with old and young and having loads of fun.

"Jen could have been a top chef and she worked in a cafe, a pub and most recently Pizza Express.

"She was skilled beyond her years and took on loads more responsibility than a teen should have. Jen brightened the working day wherever she was and always gave 100%.

“She put others first, always. She understood people so well and last year when her mum and brother were ill she was not only a great support but a champion shaving her head for charity.

"Jen was a mental health hero and looked out for all of her friends.

"If you know Jennifer, you love her.”

Lara’s family also paid tribute in a statement issued via police and said: “Friends to the end.

"Having finished their A Level exams, Lara and Jennifer had a summer of fun ahead before they headed off together to study at Sheffield Hallam University in September.

"A day trip to the seaside ended so tragically.

"Lara was a fun loving girl whose kind and caring nature touched so many of her friends all over the country.

"Born in Chesterfield she lived most of her life in Coxley, Somerset and Arnold, Nottingham.

"Her friendships remained close and in some cases stronger despite the distances.

"We have never known anyone with so many “best friends”, something that so many proudly called her.

"Lara would be the ringleader of karaoke, dancing and all manner of hilarious antics. She loved those bus trips with the girls.

"Latterly Lara worked part time in McDonald’s in Arnold. The shy girl who went for her interview blossomed and her colleagues were soon charmed by that contagious smile and fun.

"She worked hard so that she could save money to pay for holidays with her friends, nights out and for her new found love of clothes. Every colour of Crocs that you could buy and a hoodie to match them!

"Always at the centre of the fun and with a great sense of adventure we always said she lived life in “Lara Time in Lara World.”

"That might be taking her beloved Cockapoo Jet for an adventure through the woods or going for a late night walk with her friends.

"We will miss her jumping on our bed every night to chat before we slept. We will miss her taking days to bring her washing and dishes down.

"We will miss her stealing our phones and taking random pictures without us knowing.

"We will miss her charming ability to get a lift to College despite having just been given money for the bus.

"We will miss her fake tan that made her look like a tiger loaf on day three. We will miss her so much."

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