First picture of great-gran killed in mobility scooter crash on New Year’s Eve
Heartbroken relatives have said "the heart" of their family has been ripped out after a great-grandmother was killed in a hit-and-run crash on New Year's Eve.
Mum-of-four Sharon Jenkins, 62, had a "kind heart" and an "infectious" laugh and was known for taking in sick and stray animals, her family said.
She was on her way to celebrate New Year's Eve with family when her mobility scooter was struck on what "became a night of horror for our family," said Katie Davies, who has set up a GoFundMe page to give her "a beautiful send-off".
Her youngest grandchild was only a few weeks old when Mrs Jenkins, who was described by Katie as "the heart of our family…a beloved friend to so many people", was killed in Cannock, Staffordshire.
Her son Steven, 41 and also from Cannock, said: "She had a personality, a smile and a laugh that was infectious.
"She didn't take life too seriously, and had a kind heart.
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"She was always taking in strays and sick animals, and whenever you went around to her home, she always had different animals that she had taken in.
"We have been overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of people, since it happened.
"She is leaving behind so many people and far too soon – her youngest grandchild was only a few weeks old."
Mrs Jenkins was pronounced dead at the scene after the scooter she was riding was hit at about 6.30pm on Pye Green Road near Moorhill Primary School.
The crowdfunding page launched by loved ones has so far raised more than £1,400 towards the cost of her funeral.
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Katie said: "She was a mother, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother too.
"As well as being the heart of our family, she was a beloved friend to so many people too.
"What was meant to be a night of celebration for people everywhere, became a night of horror for our family.
"Sharon was on her way to spend New Year's Eve with some of her family when she was taken away from us too soon, with no chance for us to say goodbye."
She added: "As you can imagine, with this being so sudden, and it being long before her time, neither Sharon or we had planned or saved for funeral preparations.
"Especially with Christmas just passing, we simply cannot afford the send-off that Sharon deserves."
Any money left over will be donated to an animal rescue charity and the Midlands Air Ambulance.
A 27-year-old man, also from Cannock, was arrested at 2.45am on New Year's Day on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.
He was released under investigation on Thursday while enquiries continue, Staffordshire Police said.
He was believed to have been driving a VW Golf involved in the crash.
A resident told The Express and Star : "We came out the house and could see the lady lying in the road further down. The only thing we heard was a loud thud."
Paramedics are understood to have spent 20 minutes trying to save her life after finding her in the road, but to no avail.
- Visit the GoFundMe page to donate to the funeral
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