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A ‘devastated’ stepfather has said he is ‘in pieces’ after his 14-year-old stepdaughter was killed in a crash.
Tehleigher Bunting, 14, died in a collision which saw a Vauxhall Astra drive off the road and smash into her and a friend whilst they were walking on the pavement.
The ‘bubbly’ schoolgirl sadly died at the scene in Braunstone, Leicester, shortly after 11am on Wednesday when the vehicle left the road.
The second 14-year-old girl suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Today, the driver of the car, Aaron Carter, 38, appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court charged with one count of causing death by dangerous driving.
Tehleigher Bunting, 14 (right), died in a collision which saw a Vauxhall Astra drive off the road and smash into her and a friend whilst they were walking on the pavement
Tehleigher’s stepfather, Shane Patterson, said she was ‘well-liked’ by all, always putting others ahead of herself and loved spending time with her family – as well as beginning to grow up into a young woman.
He has been left devastated at her loss, struggling to find the words at such a difficult time for him and his loved ones.
But he also spoke fondly of Tehleigher’s memory, how she was a caring, outgoing young woman who loved life and the people she spent it with, and how she made a lasting impression on everyone she met.
Mr Patterson said: ‘She was outgoing and bubbly, she couldn’t do enough for others and always put others first ahead of herself.
‘She was so well liked and had so many friends who have gotten in touch and shared their love for her with us.
Tehleigher’s devastated stepfather, Shane Patterson, said she was ‘well-liked’ by all, always putting others ahead of herself and loved spending time with her family
‘One of her favourite things to do was looking after her sisters and caring for them, she was such a family girl and had a close bond with all of her siblings.
‘But she was also a teenage girl so she loved getting her nails done and was getting into make-up and starting to grow up, too.
‘She was a really well-liked young lady, words can’t describe how I’m feeling to have lost her.
‘She did so well in school, she had merits and was such a good student. We had past teachers and old school friends get in touch and have donated to the fundraiser for her funeral, it shows how loved she was.’
Today, Aaron Carter, 38, appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court charged with one count of causing death by dangerous driving over the collision at the corner of Braunstone Lane and Mortimer Way shortly after 11am on Wednesday.
Tehleigher died in the crash while a second teenage girl was left with non-life-changing injuries
Tehleigher died in the crash while a second teenage girl was left with non-life-changing injuries.
Carter, of Aikman Avenue, Leicester, did not enter a plea. He was remanded in custody to appear at Leicester Crown Court on December 5.
A family friend set up a fundraiser for Shane and his family to cover the cost of Tehleigher’s funeral.
It has led to people from all over the world getting in touch, sharing their love, and support the family at this difficult time.
Mr Patterson added: ‘We’ve had so many kind people coming forward from everywhere. Friends and family from all over the world have been getting in touch and showing their love, that’s how adored she was.
‘We’re just so grateful for all of the people who have come forward and supported us. It’s just mad, some of them we don’t even know but our daughter made such an impact to their lives they had to come forward.
‘It’s still coming in thick and fast, from as far as Australia. We are just so thankful for all of the love they’ve shown.’
The family are still trying to come to terms with their sudden loss, and are having to support each other through it while having to deal with the circumstances around Tehleigher’s death – which has been difficult to comprehend.
Mr Patterson spoke about growing close and spending a lot of time with Tehleigher in recent months as she started to grow up and develop her great sense of humour which would always make him laugh
‘What has happened is just not sinking in for me. One minute I think I’m fine and the next minute I’m in pieces. I’m still trying to get my head around what happened and that she isn’t here anymore.
‘I’m devastated, we’re comforted by the people around us but I just can’t comprehend what’s happened right now.
‘Zoe, her mum, has taken it really hard and I’m just trying my best to be practical, keeping myself busy by sorting the funeral and keeping the family together, but it’s hard.’
Mr Patterson also spoke about growing close and spending a lot of time with Tehleigher in recent months as she started to grow up and develop her great sense of humour which would always make him laugh.
He said: ‘Tehleigher and I would do this thing where she would stick her tongue out at me and I’d do it back and we’d laugh about it. She had a wicked sense of humour and could always make you laugh.
The fundraiser for Tehleigher’s family to cover the cost of her funeral has almost reached its target amount of £6,000, and Mr Patterson has spoken of his gratitude for those that have donated
‘She was my adopted daughter but she was more than that, she was my daughter that I’d raised since she was one-year-old and in nappies, all the way to becoming a young woman.
‘In the past year, year and half, we grew very close. She would always spend time with me. I realised she was getting older and needed to be treated a bit differently than her siblings.
‘So we’d go everywhere together, trips to see family, days out to theme parks, we event went on holiday together to Cyprus. We were supposed to go on a cruise together next year for two weeks around the Canary Islands, but now that’s never going to happen.’
The fundraiser for Tehleigher’s family to cover the cost of her funeral has almost reached its target amount of £6,000, and Mr Patterson has spoken of his gratitude for those that have donated. He said: ‘I can’t thank everyone enough for the donations they have made.
‘Every penny will be spent on my beautiful baby and her send off. Thank you for helping us being able to do so properly.’
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