Nineteen-year-old Lily Whitehouse, remembered by friends as a vibrant and promising young woman, tragically lost her life after being struck by a vehicle. The devastating incident unfolded on Old Park Lane in Oldbury, leaving a community reeling and a family shattered by grief.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision, which occurred between 9:20 PM and 9:45 PM on Wednesday evening. Lily was discovered nearby on Park Street with critical injuries, but despite the tireless efforts of paramedics, she could not be saved.
As news of Lily’s death spread, a cruel exploitation began. Within hours, a fraudulent fundraiser appeared online, falsely claiming to benefit her father. The individual behind the scheme, identifying herself as “Lily Smith” – a name unknown to the family – even falsely claimed to be a nurse to lend credibility.
The imposter provided an address, further attempting to appear legitimate, while the fundraiser quickly amassed £660 from well-meaning donors. Lily’s family was left desperately fighting to have the fraudulent campaign removed from the platform.
GoFundMe acted swiftly once alerted, placing a hold on the funds and ultimately taking down the fake fundraiser. All donations are now being refunded to those who were deceived by the callous act.
“Obviously that’s a fraudulent one,” a cousin of Lily’s explained, “and what I don’t want is people to donate to somebody who is essentially using Lily for money. It’s really stressing out Lily’s dad.” The family’s anguish was compounded by the stress of correcting the misinformation and protecting potential donors.
Amidst the heartbreak and outrage, Lily’s aunt, Cleo Eden, has established an official fundraiser to cover funeral expenses and create a trust fund for Lily’s young child. The fund will ensure Lily’s love and support continue to nurture her daughter as she grows.
“Lily was full of light, laughter, and kindness,” Eden shared in a heartfelt statement. “She had so many dreams ahead of her, and our hearts are shattered knowing her life was cruelly taken by another person.”
Eden implored the public to be cautious, emphasizing that her campaign is the only legitimate fundraiser created by the family. She urged anyone who had donated to the previous page to investigate its authenticity with GoFundMe.
The investigation into Lily’s death has taken a significant turn. A man has now been charged with murder in connection with the incident, offering a small measure of hope for justice as the family navigates their profound loss.
