Grandma’s final photo of granddaughter minutes before she’s killed

A woman has released a photograph capturing the last moments of her granddaughter’s life, just prior to the tragic event that led to the three-year-old’s untimely death.

Reports indicate that Scarlett Jensen lost her life in a hit-and-run incident on October 7, 2022. At the time, she was under the care of her grandmother, along with her two-year-old brother, Henry, while their parents, Samantha Jensen and her husband, were attending a wedding out of town.

While the trio was walking in the family’s private driveway in Oldtown, Idaho, an unimaginable event occurred. A Chevy Tahoe sped down the road, striking Scarlett, her grandmother, and her brother.

“My mother was frantically waving her arms and shouting for the driver to stop, attempting to pull my children out of harm’s way, but the vehicle was moving too quickly,” Samantha Jensen recounted.

“Scarlett was fatally injured almost immediately, while my mother and Henry sustained critical injuries.”

The driver of the Chevy fled the scene on foot but was later apprehended several miles away. He is currently serving a ten-year prison sentence.

“Henry was airlifted to the children’s hospital, where doctors discovered a fractured spine, six broken ribs, a broken jaw, a broken collarbone, a liver laceration, and numerous other injuries,” Samantha informed PEOPLE.

“My mother suffered multiple broken bones but was eventually discharged from the hospital.”

She continued, “Henry spent a week in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit before he was stable enough to return home, and he wore a full-body brace for ten weeks.”

In the aftermath of this tragedy, the family was engulfed in sorrow. However, a small moment of solace emerged when Samantha discovered a seemingly ordinary photograph taken by her mother of Scarlett shortly before the incident.

“My mother lost her phone during the accident, and it took us some time to locate it. When we finally retrieved it, I began reviewing the pictures and found that one,” Jensen explained. “Upon checking the timestamp, I realized it was taken just five minutes before her official time of death, likely mere seconds before the collision occurred.”
According to PEOPLE, the photograph in question was captured when Scarlett’s grandmother took her two grandchildren out for ice cream.

“When they returned home to our back driveway, Scarlett expressed a desire to exit the stroller to gather flowers,” Samantha recounted. “That was when my mother took the last picture I have of her alive.”

The grieving mother shared that her days have become markedly different. While some days are inherently more challenging than others, the family is striving to manage their profound sorrow.

“On certain days, it feels as though I am submerged, while on others, I can manage to stay afloat,” she conveyed to PEOPLE. “My entire family is engaging in therapy and working diligently to heal as much as we can. My faith in the Lord has been a lifeline for me and has significantly aided my healing process.”

Initially, the heartbroken mother found it hard to look at the final image of her daughter. However, two years after her passing, Samantha has come to view the photograph as a cherished reminder of a beautiful life.

“I am immensely grateful to possess that photo,” she stated to PEOPLE. “It encapsulates the serene essence of her final moments, the beauty that surrounded her as she took her last breaths. I will always envision her as joyful and untroubled, gathering flowers with her best friend and Meemaw.”

Rest in peace, Scarlett.