A memorial service to remember the life of a young artist who was killed in New York will take place next week.

A night out with friends ended in tragedy for Stephanie Dees, from West Meon, who was hit by two yellow cabs as she crossed a street in the city.

The 26-year-old was fatally injured alongside her friend Ann Sullivan, after they left a pizza restaurant in the East Village in the early hours of Saturday, October 4.

Stephanie, who had moved to the city in August to start a career in art, and Ann were hit by one taxi and knocked into the path of another cab that was travelling in the opposite direction.

The pair were rushed to Beth Israel Medical Centre but both died shortly after arrival.

Stephanie’s family flew to New York and arranged for her funeral to be held in Syracuse, central New York, where her grandparents live.

Anthony and Denies described their daughter as a “bubbly, fun-loving girl.”

Stephanie’s father Tony said that no arrests had been made in connection with her death and that a police investigation was ongoing.

The budding artist, who had dual citizenship, recently completed a BA Honours degree in fine art at Sheffield University and had spent the past two years at the International School of Prague in the Czech Republic.