A crowdfunding campaign established to honour an 18-year-old woman from Banbury who lost her life in a road traffic collision has amassed more than £5,000 within a single day of its launch.
The GoFundMe appeal was initiated by family friend Robyn Holtham, who recounted spending time with those closest to Esme as they struggled to comprehend the tragedy.
Esme Elizabeth Heaton-Bigits passed away following a collision in Banbury on the evening of Saturday, October 3.
The teenager, remembered as vibrant and compassionate, was transported to hospital where she succumbed to her injuries, according to Thames Valley Police.
By the time of reporting, the appeal had received numerous contributions and expressions of solidarity from local residents.
In comments posted on the fundraising page, Ms Holtham spoke of the family’s profound grief.
She described sitting with Tracy, Neil, Matthew and Erica in their home, sharing conversation and tears while attempting to process the events of the previous Saturday evening.
She noted the depth of sorrow and disbelief visible in the family as they faced this unimaginable loss.
She expressed that Esme held different meanings to different people, but remained first and foremost Tracy and Neil’s daughter and Matthew’s sibling, and that they would carry the weight of unanswerable questions forever.
Ms Holtham mentioned visiting a growing memorial site adorned with flowers, candles and balloons, where groups of young people gathered to grieve their friend.
She characterised the response from the local community as extraordinary.
The organiser clarified that the fundraising effort was not launched due to financial difficulties.
Instead, contributions were being gathered as a tribute to Esme and would be directed to Dogs for Good, an organisation she had aspired to join owing to her affection for animals.
A man has been formally charged in connection with Esme Heaton-Bigge’s death.
The collision occurred on Bloxham Road in Banbury, close to its intersection with Springfield Avenue, at approximately 9.20pm on the stated date.
Emergency services attended following reports that a white Mercedes had collided with a white Volkswagen Polo.
Family members previously shared tributes describing her as amusing, caring, determined, clever and beautiful, beloved by all who knew her.
They remembered her as the centre of her social circle, taken from them far too early.
Brian McLaren, aged 36 and from Banbury, has been charged with multiple motoring offences in connection with the incident.
The charges comprise causing death by dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, causing death by careless driving while exceeding the legal alcohol threshold, driving whilst uninsured, and operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration above the statutory limit.
McLaren appeared before magistrates at High Wycombe on the date in question.
He was held in custody pending his next court appearance, scheduled for November 6 at Oxford Crown Court.