Colchester: Mum of crash death teen says her organs will be used to save others

by: Alistair Nelson | Your County Suffolk

THE mother of a teenage girl who has died after being hit by a car as she walked on a pavement has said her daughter’s organs will be used to save the lives of others.

Cassie McCord, 16, a student at The Sixth Form College, Colchester, suffered a serious head injury and a broken leg when she was involved in an accident on Monday morning.

An 87-year-old driver fell ill at the wheel and lost control of his vehicle in Head Street, colliding with Cassie and another 16-year-old girl.

Essex Police confirmed today that Cassie, of Drury Road, Colchester, had been treated at Queen’s Hospital, Romford, and the family were informed at 11.55am on Tuesday that all signs of brain activity had ceased.

Her parents remained with her and she continued to be linked to a support machine while the possibility of organ donation was considered.

The support machine has now been switched off and Cassie has been certified dead.

Cassie’s mother, Jackie McCord said: “ Cassie’s organs have been used to save others, which was her wish, and to ensure that she did not die in vain.”

The college held a two-minute silence in Cassie’s memory at 10.22am today.

Principal Ian MacNaughton said: “Staff and students at the college are so sad that Cassie has not survived from Monday’s terrible accident.

“Cassie joined us last September and was studying AS levels. She was an excellent student and extremely well liked and popular.

“She will be enormously missed. College staff will do everything we can to support her family and friends.”

The popular AS Level student was pinned to the side of H&M clothes store in Head Street, Colchester, by a red Vauxhall Astra which had mounted the pavement.

Cassie was taken to Colchester General Hospital and then transferred to Queen’s Hospital in Romford, which specialises in head trauma, where she died.

Tributes have been paid to the teenager by her friends on the social networking sites Twitter and Facebook.

One message read “You shall be greatly missed. I love you”. Other messages included “RIP beautiful Cassie McCord, our thoughts go out to her family”, “Pls everyone pray for my friend Cassie McCord” and “No one deserved that – rest in peace baby”.

Another 16-year-old girl, who is from Colchester and a student at the college on North Hill, was also injured in the accident and was taken to Colchester hospital. She has now been released.

The driver, from Colchester, had to be cut free from the wreckage by firefighters and was taken to Colchester hospital where he is still recovering.