Tragic Death of Young Mother in Oldbury
A teenage mother described as "full of light, laughter, and kindness" has been tragically killed after being struck by a recovery vehicle in Oldbury. Lily Whitehouse, aged 19, was found with multiple fatal injuries on Park Street at approximately 9.50pm on Wednesday evening.
Emergency services rushed to the scene but despite the best efforts of paramedics, the young mother to a baby was pronounced dead at the location. The incident has left the local community in shock and her family devastated.
Police Investigation and Suspect
West Midlands Police have confirmed they believe Lily was hit by a vehicle on Old Park Lane before being found injured nearby on Park Street. Officers have released an image of a white recovery truck that appears to be driving along a narrow pavement with its headlights illuminated.
Mohammed Azim, 41, remains in police custody and is scheduled to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on December 16.
Police are urgently appealing for witnesses who may have been in the vicinity of Old Park Lane between 9.20pm and 9.45pm on Wednesday evening. They're particularly interested in anyone with dashcam footage or information about the van involved.
Family Targeted by Fraudulent Fundraiser
Within hours of Lily being identified as the victim, her family faced additional distress when a fraudulent fundraising page appeared online. The page, created by someone calling themselves Lily Smith - whom the family had never heard of - claimed to be raising money for Lily's father.
The fraudulent fundraiser managed to collect £660 before the family became aware and began fighting to have it removed. Lily's cousin expressed the family's anguish, stating: "Obviously that's a fraudulent one, and what I don't want is people to donate to somebody who is essentially using Lily for money."
GoFundMe confirmed they swiftly identified the suspicious fundraiser and placed a hold on funds before taking it down completely. All donations are now being refunded to the generous contributors who believed they were helping Lily's family.
Official Family Fundraiser Established
Lily's aunt, Cleo Eden, has since created an official fundraiser to cover funeral and memorial expenses. Any remaining funds will be placed into a trust for Lily's baby daughter, ensuring her mother's love continues to support her in the years ahead.
In a heartfelt statement, the family described Lily as having "so many dreams ahead of her" and emphasised that this is the only legitimate fundraiser. They're working toward getting justice for Lily while ensuring her memory is honoured with dignity and love.
The family has urged anyone who may have donated to the fraudulent page to contact GoFundMe directly about its legitimacy and seek refunds where appropriate.
