Inquest opens into death of 'beautiful daughter' following double fatal crash

An inquest has opened into the death of a three-year-old girl following a double fatal road accident.
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Kelsey Marie Stokes and her 17-year-old cousin, Shauna Stokes, both died following the incident on the A1086 Coast Road, between Horden and Blackhall, East Durham, on Wednesday, September 2.

Kelsey was pronounced dead later the same day in hospital with Shauna dying as a result of her injuries on September 3.

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The cousins were travelling in a blue Peugeot 206 towards Horden when the car was involved in a collision at around 2.30pm with a silver van travelling in the opposite direction.

The coffin of three-year-old Kelsey Marie Stokes is carried from St Joseph’s Church, in Galliagh, after her funeral service earlier this week.The coffin of three-year-old Kelsey Marie Stokes is carried from St Joseph’s Church, in Galliagh, after her funeral service earlier this week.
The coffin of three-year-old Kelsey Marie Stokes is carried from St Joseph’s Church, in Galliagh, after her funeral service earlier this week.

Seven people in total were rushed to three different hospitals for treatment for “significant injuries” with the road remaining closed for at least five hours.

Durham and Darlington Coroner’s Court has now opened the inquest into Kelsey’s death.

The hearing was told that she was confirmed as deceased at Sunderland Royal Hospital on September 2.

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Her body was formally identified by grandfather Michael Stokes two days later.

Flowers near the scene of the September 2 crash.Flowers near the scene of the September 2 crash.
Flowers near the scene of the September 2 crash.

Dr Nigel Cooper, a Home Office pathologist, carried out a post mortem on September 4 and has concluded that the cause of death was a “head injury”.

The hearing was adjourned until Thursday, October 15, with an inquest into the death of Shauna to open at the same court on Tuesday, September 22.

Halifax-born Kelsey, of Londonderry/Derry, Northern Ireland, was travelling with her family to a birthday celebration for Shauna and Shauna’s twin sister, Kelly, when the collision occurred.

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The van driver was among the casualties although he has since been discharged from hospital.

In a tribute to her daughter, Kelsey Marie’s mother, Michelle, wrote: “To my beautiful daughter Kelsey, I’m so sad you have to go. I will miss you every single day.

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"There’s not a second or day that I don’t think about you; you are always on my mind.

“You were my little cheeky girl and I love you in every single way.”

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