DISTRAUGHT relatives of 15-year-old A14 crash victim Sarah Geacke today issued a desperate plea for witnesses to the accident as police struggled to find motorists who saw the tragedy unfold.

DISTRAUGHT relatives of 15-year-old A14 crash victim Sarah Gaecke today issued a desperate plea for witnesses to the accident as police struggled to find motorists who saw the tragedy unfold.

Vici Gaecke, of Nacton Road, Ipswich, said she could not rest until she learned what happened in the final moments of her daughter's life.

She said: “I need to know what happened to my daughter. I need to know her final moments - somebody out there knows what happened.

“I can't rest until I know. If nobody comes forward I'll never know.”

Holywells High pupil Sarah was killed when the dark blue Renault 19 she was a passenger in was involved in a crash on the Ipswich-bound carriageway close to the Orwell Crossing truck stop near Nacton at about 7.40pm on Friday.

She had celebrated her birthday only three days before and on the evening she died was on her way back to Ipswich in a car with two friends after going to Felixstowe to put a friend's horse away for the night.

The roads policing unit at Suffolk police has launched an investigation into the cause of the accident and has appealed to motorists travelling on either carriageway in the lead-up to the crash and when the crash happened to contact officers.

At the time of the crash a police officer was travelling in a marked car only a short distance behind both the Renault and a blue Volkswagen Polo, which was also involved in the crash.

Police believe that the poor response from the initial witness appeals is a result of the police car being on the scene within seconds, leaving some motorists unaware that the crash had just happened and that they could hold important information.

Inspector Trevor Sharman, from the roads policing unit, said: “What we are keen to try to identify is any witnesses who may have seen the build-up to the collision. It's anyone who may have witnessed any of the collisions.

“We have a Renault that actually crashes first and it is then subsequently hit by the VW Polo.

“It was one of the busiest days of the year for travelling. I would have thought there would have been a fair volume of traffic using the A14 at that time.”

A 19-year-old man, also from the Ipswich area, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving following Friday's crash and has been released on police bail until the New Year.

Two people travelling in the Polo were taken to hospital with minor injuries but have since been discharged, according to police.

Anyone with information about the accident should call Pc Steve Griggs at the roads policing unit on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

SARAH Gaecke's US-based father today spoke publicly for the first time about his pain over his daughter's death.

Chris Gaecke said the flood of tributes which had been paid since the 15-year-old's death had helped his family deal with the agony surrounding the tragedy.

He said: “I have so many fond memories of Sarah, teaching her how to ride a bike, then years later teaching her how to drive our truck out in the desert in Arizona reminds me of how much she's grown.

“Listening to her beautiful voice at recitals or when she was in her room singing to the radio and didn't know we were listening.

“My parents meant the world to her and she really had a special bond with both of them.

“Looking at your website and seeing all the flowers and stuffed animals placed at the crash sight somehow comforts us in knowing how well-loved Sarah was not only in the US, but the UK.”

Sarah was born at RAF Lakenheath were her father was based but lived much of her life in the US following his posting to California and later Arizona.

She lived there until about a year ago when she decided to return to Suffolk to live with her mother Vici, brother Jacob, 5, and sister Isabelle, 14 months.

Her father still lives in Arizona with Sarah's 13-year-old brother Aaron, who paid his own tribute by describing her as “the best big sister”.

Do you want to pay tribute to Sarah Gaecke? How will you remember her? Call The Evening Star newsdesk on 01473 324788 or e-mail starnews@eveningstar.co.uk