A FATHER-of-two has spoken of the moment he learned that his wife had been killed in a car crash in a vehicle being driven by their teenage daughter.

Stan Truelove, of South Street, Canterbury, was on holiday in Ibiza when he was told of the tragedy that had occurred back home.

His 51-year-old wife, Jeanette, died after a Ford Ka being driven by the couple’s 18-year-old daughter Karen left the road and struck a tree.

Mrs Truelove had to be cut from the vehicle by firefighters and was flown to the William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, where she died. Karen is now recovering from a broken leg at the same hospital.

Mr Truelove, who had been taken to Ibiza for three days as a thank-you by a client, had been trying to get hold of the family but there was no reply. “I made a few phone calls from Ibiza before I finally got through and was told what had happened,” he said.

The 49-year-old was unable to get a flight back to Manston and instead had to fly to Leeds-Bradford airport and drive back to Canterbury.

He has spoken to Karen and they been unable to work out why the car left the road. “It’s just one of those freaky things. She was not speeding and I have sat in the car while she was driving and felt very comfortable with her driving.

“The hardest bit for me is trying to understand what happened. But it’s clear that no one is to blame.”

The couple have lived in South Street for 27 years and were married at Canterbury Register Office 26 years ago. They worked together on their own properties and a property maintenance business.

Karen works at Matalan on the Sturry Road, Canterbury. The Truelove’s other daughter, 15-year-old Sam, goes to the city's Archbishop’s School.

Paying tribute to his wife, Mr Truelove said: “She did a brilliant job of bringing up the kids. She looked after the house while I went out and earned money.”

The Truelove family are well-known for their remarkable Christmas light displays. Last year they won the Kentish Gazette’s competition for having the best house lights in the district. They raised £1,000 for the Kent Air Ambulance in the process.

The accident happened on the A2070 between Ashford and Brenzett.