Teenage girl dies from trying to save the family dog

A teenage girl has been killed in a car accident as she attempted to save her family dog from being put down.

Taylor Mae Stinchcomb, 15, from Gurnee, Lake County, Illinois died in the crash on Tuesday morning, alongside her six-year-old Doberman named Romulus.

Taylor, alongside an unnamed friend, stole her family’s car and fled her home iTaylor was driving at first, but she soon became too distressed and the friend took the wheel.

While driving towards the town of Wildwood, the girl lost control of the minivan and crashed into several trees and a pole.

Taylor was found pinned inside the vehicle by police officers who were called by a witness to the crash.

She was removed from the car and taken to the Advocate Condell Medical Center, but died of multiple injuries an hour later.

It was understood that Taylor was not wearing a seatbelt but her friend was. The friend survived the crash with minor injuries.

The dog was thrown from the vehicle and also killed. 

'This case is absolutely heartbreaking,' Lake County Undersheriff Charles Fagan said.

'Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of both girls involved in this incident.’

The family of the victim said she got the dog as a 13th birthday present and was left devastated when it was diagnosed with cancer.

'That dog was everything to her,' her sister, Mallorie Holler told the Illinois Daily Herald 

'Until the very end, they were together.'

Friends of the girl also paid tribute.

'She had the biggest personality ever,’ Kathrina Montondo told the Chicago Tribune. 

'She was larger than life and a hoot. I've never met a 15-year-old like her.'