On the night of Sunday, August 3, 2025, 18‑year‑old Ella Finley from Westbourne in Emsworth was formally identified as the sole victim of a fatal crash on the A286 Chilgrove Road near Binderton, close to West Dean.
At approximately 11:16 pm, Ella was driving a white Vauxhall Corsa southbound when the vehicle collided with a garden wall. Emergency services responded swiftly, but Ella was declared deceased at the scene. Specialist officers have since provided support to her grieving family.
Sussex Police have launched Operation Parham and are appealing to anyone who may have seen the collision or captured relevant footage — including CCTV, dashcam, or mobile phone — to come forward. Individuals with information are urged to contact Sussex Police, quoting Operation Parham, either by emailing collision.appeal@sussex.police.uk or calling 101.
The accident unfolded on a rural stretch of road that typically doesn’t see heavy traffic late at night, making the investigation and eyewitness accounts all the more critical. Ella’s death marks a heartrending loss in her community. Westbourne and Emsworth residents, as well as those travelling along the A286 Chilgrove Road, have been deeply affected—many are offering thoughts and condolences to her family.
Identifying Ella Finley provides clarity and dignity for her loved ones at a profoundly difficult time. The appeal aims to gather evidence that may be crucial in reconstructing the sequence of events leading up to the incident. Operation Parham underscores the importance of community cooperation in road safety investigations.
If you witnessed the crash or think you might have footage from the area around Binderton or Chilgrove Road around 11:16 pm on August 3, law enforcement urges you to email collision.appeal@sussex.police.uk, quoting Operation Parham, or call 101 with any information. Even small details—such as other vehicles passing at the time, behavioural observations, or roadside footage—could prove invaluable.
Ella’s tragic death is a reminder of how quickly lives can be changed forever, and her community now mourns a young woman taken far too soon.
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