Nurse died after being hit by car, inquest hears

Dominyka Jonikaite was fatally struck by a car outside Crawley Leisure Park on 12 April

A nurse who was hit by a car while walking with her family died from injuries to her head and spine, an inquest has heard.

Dominyka Jonikaite, 25, was struck by a grey BMW 3 Series in London Road, outside Crawley Leisure Park, on 12 April.

She was walking with her 12-year-old sister and their cousin, a 19-year-old woman, who were both seriously injured, police previously said.

Coroner Joseph Turner told West Sussex Coroner's Court on Thursday that Ms Jonikaite's death was "plainly violent", meaning he was required to open the inquest.

The coroner then adjourned the inquest due to the ongoing police investigation.

A post-mortem examination conducted by Dr Ashley Fegan-Earl found the provisional cause of death was craniocervical trauma, the inquest heard.

'Sudden loss'

Born in Lithuania, Ms Jonikaite had graduated with a degree in biomedical science from Bangor University and was working as a blood and transplant nurse, the inquest was told.

A GoFundMe page, which has raised more than £16,000, was set up to help her family pay for the funeral and other financial burdens resulting from the crash.

"This has left a devastating impact on the family who are struggling to come to terms with sudden loss and injuries to their baby girls," a family friend wrote on the fundraising page.

The inquest is due to resume on 26 January 2026.

Following the incident, a 33-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and driving while unfit through drugs.

He has since been released on bail.