GoFundMe page created to ease financial burden on family after teen’s tragic death

Friends and family of Montana Russell have started a fundraising page to help her family hold the funeral and service “our angel deserves”.

Friends of the teen who died tragically after the car driven by a 14-year-old crashed in Locksley on Wednesday, have started an online fundraising page for her family.

Montana Russell was in the front seat of the grey Holden Captiva wagon driven by a 14-year-old when the car collided with a truck on the Hume Highway.

The 14-year-old was charged on Thursday with dangerous driving causing death and bailed to face a children's’ court at a later date.

Montana’s best friend Hannah Styles organised the fundraiser to raise money for a funeral and memorial service the teen “deserves”.

“Funds raised will directly go to the family of Montana Russell to help with a funeral and memorial our Angel deserves,” she wrote.

“Montana was a kind, caring, bubbly girl who would do anything to see you smile. She loved her family and friends and her two dogs; she had a heart of gold,”

“Unfortunately, this Angel was taken from our lives too soon.”

Montana Russell was in the front seat of the grey Holden Captiva wagon driven by a 14-year-old when the car collided with a truck on the Hume Highway. Picture: Supplied

The fundraiser on the online platform GoFundMe aims to raise $10,000.

Montana‘s Mother, Melissa Russell, said her heart was “smashed to pieces”.

“I‘m speechless, it’s not a dream that. My beautiful baby, I want you home here with me, Dad and siblings,” she wrote.

“Fly high with grandma and be our beautiful angel. Until we meet again, love you, my baby girl, your mumma will always and forever.”

Montana when she was younger. Picture: Supplied

Montana Russell: Student of the week. Picture: Supplied

Family friend Dannielle Turner said she couldn't see the “absolute tragedy”.

“A mother and parent never expect their child to go before we, let alone in such a very tragic way; I can‘t even begin to know or even comprehend what the mother and the family are going thru, ”she wrote.

Shyanne Marshman wrote, “Montana lives in all of us now”.

“We have to keep her memory alive. I‘m so sorry, mum (Montana’s mum), it’s not fair. No family deserves to experience this type of pain,” she said.

Wodonga local Tami Strange, who spoke on behalf of her grieving daughter Zoe who was friends with Montana, told the Herald Sun that Zoe‘s world has been “shattered”.

“Monty is a lovely girl whom I had the pleasure of meeting — she always put others before herself,” Ms Strange said.

“Zoe and Monty had a friendship like no other — they acted like sisters and did everything together.

“It would be much appreciated if people could know how wonderful she is.”

Ms Strange said Zoe made a Tik Tok video to remember her friend.

She said the loss was very hard for Zoe.

“She‘s never had to deal with losing a loved one,” Ms Strange said.

Close friend Pammy Edmondstone said Montana “just wanted to be loved” and often” gave more love than she was given”.

“(She) was a girl with a bright smile that could hide all her pain behind it. She was playful and funny, with a laugh so unique it was contagious,” she said.

“I think I‘ll miss that laugh the most.”

To donate to Montana’s GoFundMe click here.