THE boyfriend of an art teacher killed by a speeding drink-driver says the horror crash will live with him forever.

Sarah Lee, of Bergholt Road, Colchester, died in a head-on collision with Matthew Anderson’s Audi.

Her partner, Richard Day, says he is haunted by the drink-driver’s face, the noise of the crash and the realisation Sarah had died.

Richard Day and Sarah Lee lived together, and planned to get married in summer 2011.

The 24-year-olds had met at York University and moved to Colchester in August, a month before Sarah started work as an art teacher at the Royal Hospital School in Holbrook, Suffolk. She had previously taught at schools in Leigh and Westcliff.

Mr Day said after the inquest into Sarah’s death: “Over the past three years, we spent virtually every spare moment together. We loved each other, supported each other, and intended to spend our lives together.

“The trauma of the collision, and of seeing Sarah trapped and dying in the wrecked car, will remain with me.”

Sarah died on December 5 last year, after Matthew Anderson crashed his Audi car into Sarah’s Ford Focus on a country lane. Mr Day was a passenger in Sarah’s car.

He added: “I am haunted by what I have seen: The image of Anderson’s face prior to the impact, of the noise of the crash, and of the realisation Sarah had died.

“I loved her more than anything in the world, and the most wonderful thing was she felt exactly the same way and I knew it.

“She will never be replaced, but will live on through all of our memories and our actions.”

Sarah’s parents, Barbara and David, of Woodbridge, Suffolk, said: “Sarah brought such joy to everyone who knew her.

“The scale of our loss is matched only by the deep love and admiration we felt for her.

“She was inspirational in her commitment to environmental and humanitarian issues, and was a constant source of personal support to us. The thought we shall not have the pleasure and company of this wonderful daughter throughout our remaining years is hard to bear.”

Sarah was born in Wrexham, North Wales, but moved to Suffolk at the age of three.

More than 300 people attended a special memorial service for Sarah at Framlingham Church.

Her family said they had also received hundreds of messages of condolence from friends, teachers and pupils.

A website, www.sarahcatherinelee.com, has been set up in her memory.