THE brother of a teenager killed in a car crash said she “meant to much to so many” - as a fundraiser set up in her memory hit almost £20,000.

Mia Craen, who died on Saturday, January 30 after her Fiat 500 collided with a tree in Southwater, near Horsham.

Speaking to the Argus, the 18-year-old’s brother Finlay Craen described his sister as “always happy and smiling.”

The Argus: A fundraiser for Mia Craen has raised almost £20,000A fundraiser for Mia Craen has raised almost £20,000

He said: “Everyone she knew said that her smile would instantly light up a room and she was never not happy.

“Everyone loved hearing her voice and she was always really talkative. It isn’t the same without her.”

Finlay has set up a GoFundMe crowdfunding page to offer support to his parents to help cover the funeral costs.

Despite only being set up on Tuesday, the fundraiser has raised more than £19,000 after setting out to raise just £1,500.

The Argus: Finaly said "it won't be the same" without his sister.Finaly said "it won't be the same" without his sister.

Finlay said: “I thought I’d do it just to take some of the cost away from our parents and with Covid it’s harder for them to do as much for Mia.

“It takes the pressure off them and obviously from there it’s just built up.

“We weren’t expecting it to get anywhere near the amount it’s got and to go beyond the target.

“It shows how much she meant to people and how much her story really touched everyone.”

In a comment accompanying the fundraiser, Finlay wrote a heartfelt tribute to his Mia, describing her as a “bright, shining star.”

He said: “I just wrote what came into my head really and I wanted to tell everyone what an amazing person she was and how she just had an effect on every single person she met.”

Finlay has found “comfort” in talking to Mia’s friends, who he said have been incredibly supportive following his sister’s death.

The Argus: Mia was fan of Aston Villa and Finlay described Jack Grealish as Mia's "hero"Mia was fan of Aston Villa and Finlay described Jack Grealish as Mia's "hero"

They managed to bring the fundraiser to the attention of Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish, who Finlay described as Mia’s “hero.”

After appealing to the Premier League star on social media, Grealish made a £2,000 donation and sent a personal message to Finlay and Mia’s friends via Instagram.

Finlay said: “Mia would have loved that because she was a really big fan of him so it’s amazing that everyone’s work got it to reach him and then for him to see it.

“Her friends also thought it would be a really good idea and they inspired me to do it.

“All of Mia’s friends have been really supportive and they helped to come up with this idea in the first place.”

Finlay said that is family are “grateful” for all the messages of support they have received and that they have helped to give them a “boost” during this difficult period.

He said: “I just want to say thank you for all the support and all the comments and messages and all the donations. They are all greatly appreciated.”

A GoFundMe Mia Craen can be found here.  

Police continue to appeal for witnesses as officers look to establish the circumstances surrounding Mia’s death.

She was driving her white Fiat when she collided with a tree. The crash happened on the B2237 Worthing Road in Southwater, near Horsham, at about 12.30pm on Saturday.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “Anyone who saw a white Fiat 500 travelling in the area immediately before the collision – or anyone who captured what happened on dash cam – is asked to email collision.appeal@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting Operation Sunningdale.”