IT was a horrific car crash that left a Hampshire village mourning the death of two teenage girls.
Friends Abbey Rogers and Lily Godwin died after the car they were travelling in went out of control and ploughed into a wall in Lyndhurst.
The pair had been enjoying a night out at the Stag Hotel in the village’s High Street – where Lily worked behind the bar – moments before they died.
The 21-year-old male driver had picked up the girls from the hotel and was giving the pair a lift along with another 19-year-old friend in a Mazda RX8.
But minutes later and just half a mile from the pub where earlier they had been enjoying a Friday night out, the tragedy happened.
Neighbours living near the crash in Gosport Lane told how they heard “a small explosion” as the car hit the wall.
They called the emergency services and rushed to help, but the two girls were already dead.
The driver and the other girl were taken to Southampton General Hospital, where they are being treated today for nonlife- threatening head and spinal injuries.
The accident has shocked the tight-knit community in the New Forest where the two girls lived and were so well known.
Within hours word had spread that the former Hounsdown School pupils had died.
Friends flooded to the crash site, which was turned into a shrine where flowers and tributes to the two girls were left.
Tributes poured on to social media sites, with the girls being described as ‘angels’ by friends and work colleagues.
Both the girls’ boyfriends, who are also both ex-Hounsdown pupils, have spoken of their loss on their own Facebook sites.
Lily’s boyfriend Kane Parnell, a former Hounsdown School and Eastleigh College student, said: “Absolutely gutted and broken into pieces. Just wanna say thank you to everyone for your thoughts and love.”
Her grandfather Roger Butterfield said last night: “It’s so tragic. The whole community has been shocked by this.
“She was a lovely girl.”
Abbey’s boyfriend, Allix Dyson, said: “I love you Abbey with all of my heart and I always will. Sleep tight, I will never forget you.”
Prayers were said at church services yesterday as tearful mourners and friends went to church for support.
At St Michael and All Angels Church in the village centre, devastated family and friends lit candles and stopped to remember those affected by the crash.
Hugs were exchanged among mourners before the Rev Dr James Bruce, vicar of the Lyndhurst church, offered the congregation the chance to light candles in memory of the pair.
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