On October 7, 2022, what began as an ordinary afternoon in Oldtown, Idaho, turned into an unimaginable tragedy.
Three-year-old Scarlett Jensen lost her life in a devastating hit-and-run accident, leaving her family shattered forever.
Scarlett and her two-year-old brother, Henry, were playing under the watchful eye of their grandmother when a speeding Chevy Tahoe barreled down their driveway.
“My mom was waving and yelling for him to stop. She tried to grab my kids, but he was going too fast,” recalled their heartbroken mother, Samantha Jensen.
The SUV struck both children before their grandmother could reach them. Scarlett died almost instantly. Henry and his grandmother suffered severe injuries.
The Driver Who Didn’t Stop
Instead of helping, the driver sped away, leaving chaos and heartbreak behind. Police later apprehended him, and he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the crash.
A Fight for Survival
Henry’s injuries were catastrophic—a broken spine and multiple broken ribs—while his grandmother sustained several broken bones.
“Henry was in the ICU for a week before he was well enough to come home,” Samantha said. “Every moment felt endless. I didn’t know if he would make it.”
The Last Photo
Amid the grief, Samantha discovered something that gave her a small measure of peace: a final photo of Scarlett, taken by her grandmother just before the accident.
“I’m so grateful to have that photo,” Samantha said softly. “It shows her last moments as peaceful. In that picture, she was safe, happy, and loved. That’s how I want to remember her.”
Keeping Scarlett’s Memory Alive
As the Jensen family struggles to heal, they hold tight to memories of Scarlett—through photos, stories, and the love she left behind.
It’s a heartbreaking reminder of how fragile life is—and how one reckless decision can change everything in an instant.
“We can’t bring Scarlett back,” Samantha said, “but we can keep her memory alive every single day.”