Devastated family's anguish over crash victim

Just four months later she was killed in a horror smash which left two other teenagers dead and three people seriously injured.

Rebecca's parents today spoke of their heartbreak over the loss of their daughter, a bright PE student with a promising career ahead of her as a teacher.

Rebecca's father, David Seymour, 53, said: "She was good at all sports, loved partying and was full of life.

"She was perfect in every way. Everybody that met her loved her to bits even if they had just met her once.

"We are absolutely devastated."

Rebecca, of Ridgeside Avenue, Brighton, was in a Nissan Micra with James Daniels, 19, of Rookery Way, Newhaven, and Steve Bernard, 18, from Bournemouth, when it was in collision with a Ford Focus on the A27 near Fontwell on Wednesday evening.

The teenagers, and another two also in the car who were seriously injured, were just six weeks into a four-year PE teaching degree at Chichester University when they died.

All were living in halls of residence on the university's Bognor campus.

Mr Seymour, his wife Ellen and their daughter Jessica were rushed to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester but Rebecca was pronounced dead soon after they arrived.

Mrs Seymour, 48, said: "They had only known each other for six weeks but they had all gelled straight away. Rebecca was popular for all the right reasons.

"She was funny, listened to people and took in people's views.

"She was one in a million."

Rebecca's sister, Jessica, 16, said: "She was a brilliant big sister. She was the only one who listened to me and stood up for me when things went wrong at school."

Rebecca would come home at weekends to work in the women's fashion section of the Debenhams store in Churchill Square, Brighton.

Before going to Chichester University, she was a pupil at Patcham Infant School, Patcham Junior School, Patcham High School and Varndean College.

An accomplished sportswoman, she captained the Hove Park Girls football team at the age of 13 and ran long-distance and sprints for Brighton and Hove Athletics Club. More recently, Rebecca ran with a club at Chichester University.

The university's Vice Chancellor, Philip Robinson, said: "My deep sympathies and condolences are with the five families and also with all the physical education students and staff who knew them as friends and colleagues.

"Our prayers are that the two injured take strength from the university community to be restored to full health."

He added: "Our tears are for the loss of three vital, young and vibrant individuals who would have grown to become inspiring teachers."

The university is planning a memorial service.

Officers investigating the collision appealed for witnesses to contact the road policing department at Chichester on 0845 6070 999, quoting Operation Fiction.

adrian.kwintner @theargus.co.ukSTUNNING Rebecca Seymour laughs with friends on a night out to celebrate her 19th birthday.

Just four months later she was killed in a horror smash which left two other teenagers dead and three people seriously injured.

Rebecca's parents today spoke of their heartbreak over the loss of their daughter, a bright PE student with a promising career ahead of her as a teacher.

Rebecca's father, David Seymour, 53, said: "She was good at all sports, loved partying and was full of life.

"She was perfect in every way. Everybody that met her loved her to bits even if they had just met her once.

"We are absolutely devastated."

Rebecca, of Ridgeside Avenue, Brighton, was in a Nissan Micra with James Daniels, 19, of Rookery Way, Newhaven, and Steve Bernard, 18, from Bournemouth, when it was in collision with a Ford Focus on the A27 near Fontwell on Wednesday evening.

The teenagers, and another two also in the car who were seriously injured, were just six weeks into a four-year PE teaching degree at Chichester University when they died.

All were living in halls of residence on the university's Bognor campus.

Mr Seymour, his wife Ellen and their daughter Jessica were rushed to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester but Rebecca was pronounced dead soon after they arrived.

Mrs Seymour, 48, said: "They had only known each other for six weeks but they had all gelled straight away. Rebecca was popular for all the right reasons.

"She was funny, listened to people and took in people's views.

"She was one in a million."

Rebecca's sister, Jessica, 16, said: "She was a brilliant big sister. She was the only one who listened to me and stood up for me when things went wrong at school."

Rebecca would come home at weekends to work in the women's fashion section of the Debenhams store in Churchill Square, Brighton.

Before going to Chichester University, she was a pupil at Patcham Infant School, Patcham Junior School, Patcham High School and Varndean College.

An accomplished sportswoman, she captained the Hove Park Girls football team at the age of 13 and ran long-distance and sprints for Brighton and Hove Athletics Club. More recently, Rebecca ran with a club at Chichester University.

The university's Vice Chancellor, Philip Robinson, said: "My deep sympathies and condolences are with the five families and also with all the physical education students and staff who knew them as friends and colleagues.

"Our prayers are that the two injured take strength from the university community to be restored to full health."

He added: "Our tears are for the loss of three vital, young and vibrant individuals who would have grown to become inspiring teachers."

The university is planning a memorial service.

Officers investigating the collision appealed for witnesses to contact the road policing department at Chichester on 0845 6070 999, quoting Operation Fiction.