Melissa Premaratne (16) died in London after being hit by a taxi.

A 16-year-old schoolgirl, Melissa Premaratne, of Sri Lankan origin, who was on her way to school in North London, has died in a road accident. The tragedy reportedly occurred around 8:15 AM on Thursday on North Road, near Highgate School.

Doctors confirmed that she was hit by a private taxi and died at the scene.

The 68-year-old driver involved in the accident was arrested by the police on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and was later released on bail. Detective Simon Ager of the London Metropolitan Police urges the public to provide any information, CCTV, or dashcam footage related to the accident, stating that investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Melissa was an exceptionally talented Year 12 student who achieved 10 Grade 9s in her GCSE exams and dreamt of studying Mathematics and Philosophy at Oxford University. Her family members state that her loss, which brightened their lives, is an irreparable one, and they recall the immense support she provided to her mother and younger sister.

A spokesperson for Highgate School stated that the untimely death of this young girl, who held many hopes for the future, has deeply shocked the entire school community. Furthermore, the 'Addison Lee' taxi service confirmed that the vehicle involved in the accident belonged to their company and stated that they are providing their full cooperation to the police investigation.

A fund has now been established for Melissa's funeral arrangements and to provide financial assistance for her grandparents in Sri Lanka to travel to London. Melissa was talented in sports, piano, and singing. This fund, initiated with the generous contributions of family friends and local residents, has already surpassed its initial target of £55,000, raising nearly £90,000 to date.

Watch the video related to this incident ›