A memorial fund set up to give a schoolgirl who died in a collision with a bus a fitting send-off has raised almost three times its original target of £1,000 in a matter of days.
Sian Ellis, who was a pupil at King Edward VII school, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, in Meadow Lane, Coalville, on Monday, January 28.
A sum of £2,873 has, so far, been donated and will go towards a horse and carriage and a white limousine that would have taken Sian to her high school prom in August when she would have turned 16.
The money, generated using the gofundme website, was raised in just four days.
Today, an inquest opened into the death of the 15-year-old.
The five minute long hearing was held at Loughborough Coroner’s Court, where Trevor Kirkman, senior coroner for Rutland and North Leicestershire, revealed that the incident happened just before 3.40pm, close to the junction with Warren Hills Road.
He said: “I open the inquest into the death of Sian Lily Ellis, born on August 3, 2003 , who died in Meadow Lane, Coalville, close to the junction with Warren Hills Road – some 260m south west of that junction, on January 28, this year.
He said she was formally identified by a family member on January 31.
Mr Kirkman added: “I understand that the circumstances were that the deceased had been struck by the front, near side of a vehicle.
“Investigations by Leicestershire Police are continuing and, until these have concluded, it will not be possible to conclude the inquest.”
The inquest was adjourned until May 2.
In a statement on behalf of the Ellis family on the gofundme fund-raising page, a spokesman said: “Sian was only 15 years old, she was loved by so many, and we would love to raise as much money as we can to make sure she has the best send-off possible.
"She would have been going to her prom this year and celebrated her 16th birthday.
"These are milestones that no parent wants to have taken away from them, so we have decided that we will do our very best to grant Sian's prom wishes that she was already preparing for and have purchased the dress she chose.
“She will have her special day, she will go to the ball.”
Anyone who witnessed the collision who has not yet spoken to Leicestershire Police is asked to call them on 101.
