A GWENT-born mother who died in America while trying to help a road accident victim was hailed a Good Samaritan.

Jennifer Lum, ne Bullen, pictured, who lived in Arizona, was driving to work when she stopped to assist a driver involved in a head-on crash.

She got out of her car to help and was hit by a truck whose driver had not seen her in the dark.

The 59-year-old mother of three, who was born in Newport and brought up in Rogiet, near Caldicot, was killed instantly in the pre-dawn crash on December 13.

Jennifer had lived in America since the 1970s after marrying Barry Lum, a former serviceman in the US Air Force, who she met when he was stationed in Cambridgeshire.

Her father, Vic Bullen, 81, a former railway engine driver, from Newport Road, Caldicot, paid tribute to his daughter and only child.

"She was a wonderful girl who was very kind," he said. "It was typical of Jennifer to want to help others. If she hadn't stopped to help that day she would still be with us.

"For some unknown reason she thought the world of me and we were very close."

Jennifer was a care worker who looked after the children of pilots at the Luke Air Force Base near her home in Goodyear, Arizona.

Mr Bullen said: "She loved children and animals. Jennifer loved America and she loved Wales, but she did say she would never come back home."

Mr Bullen said a police investigation into the cause of Jennifer's death was under way.

He said he wants to thank people for their kindness and support, and a memorial service for Jennifer is due to take place at St Mary's Church, Caldicot, in the new year.