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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Zahra Khaliq

Woman who 'always had smile on her face' killed as mobility scooter crashes with car

Tributes are pouring in for a woman who was killed on her mobility scooter as it collided with a car.

54-year-old Julia Relph, who loved ones say "always had a smile on her face", tragically succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The fatal collision took place near an Asda supermarket in Solihull at around 1pm, on Saturday, October 1.

West Midlands Police have said that the driver of a car, a woman aged in her 60s, has been spoken to and is assisting the police investigation.

Ellen Parkes, a close friend of Julia’s, said Julia was a very popular member of the community.

Police had cordoned off the area where the tragic crash took place (Birmingham Mail WS)

Ellen has set up a crowdfunding page to raise money for funeral costs so that friends and family can give Julia the send off she deserves.

She told BirminghamLive : "[Julia] was going to Asda to pick up a few bits and obviously she didn't make it back home. Everyone in Chelmsley Wood knows her.

"She's had a life-long disability and life has been a struggle. But people have said that whenever she saw them she always had a smile on her face. She would literally talk to anyone.

"I was close to her and her partner as I did a lot of care work and cleaning for them. Over a period of time we became very close friends.

Julia pictured with her dog Buster (BPM MEDIA)

"Considering she was wheelchair bound, she coped with it better than anyone I can think of. I don't think I realised how popular she was until some people started realising it was her (who had died)."

In her crowdfunding appeal, Ellen wrote: "As some of you may be aware…. My close family friend Julia Relph was sadly taken away from us in the most cruellest way.

"I am currently trying to support her loved ones through this awful time, whilst trying to make sense of how we lost her so suddenly.

“I would ideally like to raise a few pounds towards Julia’s funeral costs & give her the send off that she deserves. Rest peacefully Julia, such a heartbreaking time."

Donations can be made to Ellen’s fund here.

The 54-year-old was was described as someone who 'always had a smile on her face' (Birmingham Mail WS)

In a statement, police said: "We’re investigating after a woman on a mobility scooter died in a collision involving a car in Chelmsley Wood. We were called to Bosworth Drive just after 1pm.

"The woman, in her 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her family is being supported by officers.

"The driver of the car, a woman in her 60s, has been spoken to by officers and is helping with our investigation. Anyone with information has been asked to contact us via live chat, quoting log 1827 of 1 October."

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