Tragedy of 'teenage joyride'

A teenage girl was killed in a horrific car crash less than an hour after sneaking out of her house to meet friends.

Katie Wallace and boyfriend Ashley Fowle died after the car they were in hit a van and crashed into a tree. The driver has been arrested and police are investigating whether the vehicle was stolen.

The 15-year-old had crept out of her house after kissing her mother Barbara goodnight and going to bed.

Today Mrs Wallace told how she answered a knock on her door at 3am to be greeted by two police officers, who broke the tragic news. "I just kept saying to them, 'But Katie's upstairs in bed, she can't be dead, she can't be'," said Mrs Wallace.

Two other passengers and the driver were injured after the Ford Ka hit a parked van and ploughed into a tree. The accident took place only minutes from Katie's home in Dagenham on Tuesday morning.

The driver, who was 18, fled and was arrested shortly afterwards for failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

A police spokesman said officers were investigating whether the youths were joyriding in a stolen car.

It is believed Katie crept out to meet the group near her home some time before 1am. The crash happened at about 1.30am in Porters Avenue.

Katie - a pupil at Robert Clack secondary school in Dagenham, who dreamed of becoming a vet - was taken to Oldchurch Hospital, Romford, where she died. Ashley, who was 16 and also lived in Dagenham, was taken to King George Hospital in Goodmayes, where he also later died.

Katie's best friend Kirsty Sanson, 14, was also one of the passengers. She was today recovering at home after being discharged from hospital.

The driver and a fourth passenger were also treated in hospital.

Mrs Wallace, 46, who is separated from Katie's father and raised her daughter alone, said: "It was around 10 o'clock and she kissed me goodnight and went up to bed. The next thing I knew it was around 3am and the police were at my door saying Katie was dead.

"She was a flower, a beautiful flower. She gave and never took and she loved everyone, that is the only way I can describe her. Everyone who knew her said she touched them in some way.

"Katie had a special magic about her and now she is gone I feel like I am dead."

Katie's aunt, Kathy Bennett, 45, added: "Katie was Barbara's only child. She was a bubbly lovelynatured girl, full of life who shone in everything she did. I don't know how she's going to cope without her."

She said Katie's departure from the house was out of character: "She has never done anything like this before. She has never been in trouble and is a really good girl who was doing well at school.

"We don't really know why they were in the car but the police told us that the driver, a lad we don't know, just ran off after the accident. The police said they may have been joyriding."

She said Katie and Kirsty had been friends since they were babies. "Barbara is friends with

Kirsty's mother and the two girls were inseparable. I t ' s going to be a huge blow for Kirsty."

Kirsty's mother Dorothy said: "Kirsty is absolutely broken-hearted "She has a lot to cope with now and is feeling a lot of guilt. She hasn't said much about what happened as she is still in shock.

"My heart and soul go out to Barbara. My daughter is alive and hers is gone. I am devastated by what has happened."

Inquests into the deaths of Katie and Ashley opened and were adjourned yesterday.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw the crash or knows anything about it to come forward or contact the Collision Investigation Unit at Chadwell Heath on 020 8345 4922.