A HEARTBROKEN family has paid a touching tribute to a young woman who was fatally struck down while walking her dog.
Danielle Mitten has been jailed after she mowed down Lucy Atkins, 20, as she walked her Lakeland Terrier, Simba, in Birmingham last year.
University student Lucy was hit by the car as it sped down West Boulevard in Quinton last June.
West Midlands Police confirmed Simba was also sadly killed after being hit by Mitten.
Cops quickly launched a probe into the fatal collision and established Mitten had been travelling at 82mph – over double the speed limit.
The force’s serious collision investigation unit determined the speeding driver had collided with Lucy at 63mph.
Mitten, of Baldwin Road, Birmingham, has since pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
She was jailed for five years and four months and has been disqualified from driving for seven years and eight months.
Releasing a statement through the police, Lucy’s loved ones hailed her as a “force of nature”.
They said: “The loss of Lucy, together with our dog Simba has brought immense pain to all our lives.
“We have described Lucy as a force of nature who touched all she knew or met. She was full of life and enjoyed her life.
“Lucy was loving, kind, caring and thoughtful.
“My son wishes Ms Mitten to know that as much as he wishes every day that his sister Lucy was still here, he does not hold this against her…
“… he wants us all, including Ms Mitten to be able to move on with our lives and live them in Lucy’s honour rather than in sadness.
“This is what Lucy would have wanted. Nothing will bring our beloved Lucy and Simba back…
“…but if the pain that I have described gets publicity and stops someone else from driving dangerously and killing someone, then Lucy’s death will not have been in vain.”
Speaking last year, Dean and head of Cardiff Business School, Professor Rachel Ashworth praised Lucy as a “energetic and talented” student.
She added: “Lucy was an energetic, engaged and talented student, who had such a passion for learning.
“She was always surrounded by friends and her smile was constant.
“We are heartbroken… our thoughts are with Lucy’s family, her classmates and her friends at this most challenging of times.”
