Sunmara Alexander will miss her sister's funeral today, as she continues to fight for her life after a fiery crash left her critically injured and her sibling dead.
Family and friends of Tayla Alexander, 17, will gather in Ashburton this afternoon to say their final goodbyes to the teen who has been described as a caring young woman.
Her funeral comes as Sunmara, 15, has only just been able to blink her eyes open and show signs of consciousness since the crash last Wednesday.
The pair had been with at least two other teenagers when the vehicle they were in crashed on Summit Rd, on Christchurch's Port Hills, about 11pm.
The girls' father, Jason Alexander, said on Facebook yesterday that doctors were hoping she would come out of sedation soon.