THE parents of hit-and-run victim Caroline Elliott hope to meet the perfect strangers who continue to leave moving tributes to their daughter this weekend.
As the 15th anniversary of her death approaches, flowers and messages of love continue to be left by a tree in Sefton Park.
Medical student Caroline, 22, and her best friend, Sarah Edenbrow, 21, were jogging around the park on November 14, 1996, when they were hit by a stolen car.
Caroline, from St Albans, Hertfordshire, died in hospital in the early hours of the next day.
Fellow University of Liverpool student Sarah, from Boston in Lincolnshire, was very badly injured but eventually recovered.
Following the tragedy, a memorial bench bearing a small gold plaque was dedicated in memory of Caroline near to where the accident happened.
The bench and plaque, which reads “remembering the good times, till we meet again”, was Sarah’s idea.
Now a married mother-of-two, she works as a GP in Cheshire – and will be joining Caroline’s parents, Mike and Ann, and many of Caroline’s friends at a special commemorative event to be held in Sefton Park on Sunday.
Mrs Elliott said: “We will be gathering by the tree where people leave flowers and messages from 2pm and then having refreshments in the nearby Alicia Hotel from 3pm.
“And it would be lovely for us to be able to meet and personally thank those people who have kindly left lovely messages for Caroline.
“It’s very heartwarming that people still remember and care.”
Caroline’s parents return to Liverpool every November and on their last visit they were particularly moved by a couple of letters.
One, which was left with a running shirt, said: “I ran the Berlin marathon in this shirt. Every time I run past this tree or her memorial bench I say a prayer for Caroline and give thanks for my life.
“Even though I never met her, I remember Caroline Elliott.”
Another person left a note which said: “I pray for Caroline although I never met her. I’m sure many other people do. She will never be forgotten in Liverpool.”
Lee Davies, from Stockbridge Village, who police believe was behind the wheel of the stolen car, died five days after the crash.
The 21-year-old suffered fatal injuries following a high-speed police chase through the town of Shrewsbury, in Shropshire.
