Plane death girl suffered head injury

Plane death girl suffered head injury

Posters now ask people not to fly planes out of respect for Tara

A post mortem examination carried out on a 13-year-old girl who was killed when she was hit by a radio-controlled plane has concluded she died from a head injury.

Tara Lipscombe, from Dartford, was walking with her mother across Dartford Heath in Kent at about 1700 BST on Tuesday when she was hit by the aircraft.

Tara was badly injured and taken by air ambulance to Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford where she died at about 2000 BST.

Police said the model plane, being flown by a 55-year-old man from south London, appeared to have gone out of control and hit her.

Family 'devastated'

Tara suffered severe head injuries and police spoke to the man at the scene, but have not taken any action against him.

He is believed to be a friend of the plane's owner, who was also there.

Both were said to be in shock after the incident.

Officers said Tara's family had left the area and were staying with friends or family.

About 30 people regularly fly model planes at Dartford Heath

"The family are quite clearly devastated by what has happened," a spokesman said.

"They have gone away to try to come to terms with everything and would appreciate it if people would allow them time for it to sink in and try to get life back to normal, if that is at all possible."

An investigation is being carried out into the circumstances of the incident, but police say early indications suggest it was "a very tragic accident".

The heath has a designated area for flying model planes, regularly used by about 30 enthusiasts, but users are being asked not to fly planes while the police investigation goes on, as a mark of respect.

Police have not confirmed where the incident happened in relation to the flying zone.

A police spokesman said the Acrowot petrol-powered plane involved in the incident would be examined by police and, if necessary, by outside experts.