Your use of visual imagery is lovely - vivid and rich. The picture of the bonnet, valiantly struggling, but ultimately twirling away is really nice. As are her dreams of a different life.

However, if you don't mind me saying, there is a slight problem with the first line, since at the end she dies. So to say - The one thing she would remember most about that night... doesn't actually make sense.
I also didn't understand the last paragraph. 233 miles is a long way, so is the gnarled body the car, or Elizabeth? And who gathered, the reeds?

I loved the last image of the stars having the indecency to shine in the face of death.