The heartbroken mother of a young woman killed in a brutal hit-and-run has made a desperate public plea for the driver to come forward, five years after the tragedy that shattered her family.
Vanessa Jacobs-Fennell's daughter, 21-year-old Charlotte Jacobs-Fennell, was struck by a vehicle on the A202 in Southwark, south London, on November 25, 2019. The driver callously fled the scene, leaving Charlotte with catastrophic injuries from which she would never recover.
She was rushed to hospital but died two weeks later, on December 8, without ever regaining consciousness.
A Life Full of Promise Cut Short
Charlotte, a vibrant young woman working in retail and with a passion for music and fashion, had been on her way to see friends when the collision occurred. Her mother described her as "my best friend" and "the most beautiful girl inside and out."
"She had her whole life ahead of her," Mrs Jacobs-Fennell stated, her voice heavy with grief. "She was kind, she was loving, and she didn't deserve this. Nobody deserves to be left in the road like that."
The Agonising Wait for Justice
Despite a lengthy investigation by the Metropolitan Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, no one has ever been arrested in connection with Charlotte's death. Officers believe the vehicle involved was a dark-coloured SUV, possibly a BMW X5 or similar model, which would have sustained significant damage to its front end.
Detectives are now renewing their appeal for information and have announced a reward of up to £20,000 for anyone who can provide details that lead to the identification, arrest, and prosecution of those responsible.
A Mother's Tearful Plea
In a powerful and emotional statement, Vanessa Jacobs-Fennell directly addressed the driver: "Please, please come forward. You've had five years of freedom. I've had five years of hell. I need to know what happened to my daughter. I need to be able to lay her to rest properly."
She added, "Somebody out there knows something. Your conscience must be eating away at you. Please find it in yourself to do the right thing and contact the police."
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Met Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
