Mother's grief as she finds her daughter dying in road

Katie Whelan was crossing the road in Barnet on her way to the celebrations at a local pub when she was hit by a Smart car.

Her mother told today of the horrific moment when she found her daughter, lying unconscious on the Great North Road, fighting for life.

Miss Whelan, who turned 18 last month, was out celebrating with her mother and friends at her family's local pub The Queens Arms when she left to go to a nearby newsagents.

Emergency services were called to the scene and tried to resuscitate the businesses studies student following the collision early on Saturday. She was taken to hospital but died a short time later.

Her mother Emma today told how she noticed her daughter had failed to return and a friend called her outside to find paramedics attempting to save Katie's life. She said: "We had been out for a friend's birthday. Katie went to the shops and was hit on the way back. Someone came and got me.

"I am heartbroken. I just feel lost and empty. Katie was in a place where she was really happy for the first time in her life. She was hoping to travel a little bit, take her driving test. It is a tragedy."

One witness to the crash, Oliver Lewis, 19, said: "I saw Katie on the floor and saw them put a mask over her face and start pumping her chest. I thought she was alive at first but her friend kept saying 'she's dead'."

Miss Whelan was a student at Barnet College and had also worked as a hairdresser and barmaid.

She had lived in Barnet all her life and previously attended Barnet Hill School before moving to Ravenscroft School. She had a five-year-old brother and younger teenage sister.

Her mother's best friend, Julie Thompson, 39, called the 18-year-old's death "absolutely shocking".

She said: "She was so happy the last couple of months. She loved life and loved going out. She was always laughing and so funny. She will be missed by everyone."

Bouquets now mark the spot where Miss Whelan was knocked down.

The car involved stopped at the scene and police arrested a 36-year-old man on suspicion of drink driving and causing death by dangerous driving. He has been bailed until March.