Blonde bombshell Jessica Simpson is hiding a painful family tragedy – the gruesome death of her closest cousin.
“Jessica’s haunted by the accident that took her cousin Sarah’s life,” a family insider divulged to The National ENQUIRER.
“While the tragedy happened in 1996, not a day goes by when Jess doesn’t think about it.”
This publication has learned Sarah Hering – who was then 17 – was riding in the passenger seat of her boyfriend’s pickup truck as they drove down a rural road near Waco, Texas, in May 1996.
According to a local news report, a “horse darted in front of the vehicle … upon impact, the horse came over the hood crashing into the windshield.
The runaway horse was from a local rodeo that had escaped earlier that evening.”
Sarah was killed immediately, the source said.
“She was nearly decapitated,” the insider added.
“Her boyfriend walked away with minor injuries. Sarah’s parents were following them at the time, and witnessed the entire accident.”
Aged 15 at the time, “Jessica bawled for hours upon hearing the terrible news,” the insider continued.
“She and Sarah were born two years and three days apart, and were really close. They planned to live in the same neighborhood and raise their kids together.
“Jessica saw Sarah as a ‘big sister’ – someone she looked up to as a young kid. They were inseparable growing up, and had so many plans that involved each other. They even talked about going into the fashion industry together.”
At the funeral, Jessica sang “Amazing Grace” as a tribute to her cousin, revealed the source, who said: “There wasn’t a dry eye in the church.”
Later that year, Jessica dedicated her self-titled album “Jessica” to Sarah.
Each year since then, family members have been concerned about Jessica, 34, around the anniversary of Sarah’s death.
This year they’re especially worried after recent reports said she has become addicted to prescription pills and booze as she struggles to stay thin.
Said the source: “Even after 19 years, Jessica is still coping with her cousin’s death. Every time Jessica goes back to Waco to see family, she visits Sarah’s grave. She’s buried right next to their grandfather, A.E. Drew, who passed away in 2013.
“Sarah’s death left Jessica so emotionally scarred that she’s never spoken publicly about it. Even in private she rarely brings it up because she’s still haunted by what happened.
“Jessica’s only solace is that she truly believes she’ll be reunited with Sarah in the afterlife.”
