Friends and family members of Tayla Alexander have paid tribute to a young woman who is being described by many as a beautiful and caring teen, who lived in Ashburton.
"I'm gonna miss you, Taytay. Although we can't make anymore memories together, know that I'll cherish the ones I do have forever," one friend wrote on Facebook.
Another said: "Rest in peace, Tayla. We will never forget you. You were a beautiful girl taken too young."
Emergency services were called to Summit Rd, on the Port Hills, about 11pm on Wednesday after reports of a car crash.
It is understood there were at least three other people in the car. One suffered critical injuries in the crash, which did not involve any other vehicles.
A witness, Kevin Clark, told the New Zealand Herald the car had gone off the road and had caught fire when he arrived shortly afterwards.
"People were trying to get the fire out with whatever water they could find.
"There was a group of people looking for a knife so they could help someone trapped in the car," he said.
"I had a craft knife in the back of the car. I quickly grabbed it and handed it over."
WARNING AFTER FAKE FUNERAL FUND PAGE SET UP:
Meanwhile, family members of the dead teen are also having to deal with a fake fundraising page that has been set up to supposedly help pay for her funeral.
Relatives are telling people to "be aware" of the page - which has been set up as the "Tayla Alexander Funeral Fund" on a website called Go Get Funding.
The page also includes a photo of the teenager smiling softly to the camera.
