The devastated mother of a teenage girl killed in a crash on the A47 in Suffolk has paid tribute to her daughter, who she has described as being “beautiful inside and out”.
Rachel Stoter, who was born in Kent but grew up in the Beccles area with her mother Michelle Whiting, died after being hit by a lorry on the northbound carriageway of the A47 near Lowestoft on Monday.
She was rushed to James Paget University Hospital with life-threatening injuries but died later that evening.
Miss Stoter’s heartbroken mother has led tributes to the teenager, who attended Wenhaston Primary School, Halesworth Middle School and Bungay High School.
She said: “My beautiful daughter Rachel Lorraine Stoter, born on December 15, 1998, was taken far too soon.
“After doing so well with her mental health issues, she is gone but never forgotten.
“[Rachel] was loved by all who knew her, she will be missed by mum Michelle, dad Ron, sisters Lisa, Sam and Lorna, brother Alec, nephews and nieces and countless others.
Ms Whiting added: “Rachel had a lovely personality and was beautiful inside and out.
“She had some mental health issues and had lived in various parts of Suffolk as a result. “Most recently, she stayed here with me and she lived in Ipswich for a while last year.
“We are heartbroken as a family and she was loved by everyone.
“Her sister Lorna is due to give birth soon and when we went to the hospital we were meant to be seeing her baby being born, not to say goodbye to Rachel.
“We will miss her so much, my kind and caring daughter.”
Miss Stoter is the 15th person to die on Suffolk’s roads since the beginning of the year.
Ms Whiting said: “I’d like to thank everyone who has sent me messages of condolence and to my church friends from the New Life Christian Fellowship in Beccles who have been supporting me and my family.”
Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses to the crash.
Detectives shut the northbound carriageway on the A47 near Jay Lane until around 7.25pm on Monday to carry out an investigation at the scene.
• Witnesses and anyone with information or dash cam footage should call the serious collision investigation team on 101 quoting CAD number 261 of May 22.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here