A mother of four who was described as 'a light to everyone she met' has died after being struck by a lorry in Dover. Sarah Gilkes, 41, known affectionately as Sarah Smile, suffered catastrophic head injuries in the early morning collision on July 9 and later died at King's College Hospital in London.
Family Tribute and Organ Donation
Her sister, Emma McMahon, paid tribute to Sarah, highlighting her selfless act of organ donation. 'When her time of death was confirmed, her organs were donated and she saved four people. Her light will continue to shine, but from within others,' Emma wrote on a GoFundMe page set up to cover funeral costs.
Sarah leaves behind four children: Mya, 23, Toby, 21, Jamillah, nine, and Giovanni, seven. Emma described her younger sibling as someone who 'was a light to everyone she met' despite a difficult life marked by the loss of their parents to suicide.
Police Appeal for Witness
Kent Police are appealing for a man who was reportedly walking with Sarah on Townwall Street earlier that morning to come forward. He is described as wearing a long white-sleeved shirt and dark-coloured shorts. A 41-year-old man arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving has been released while enquiries continue.
The fatal collision occurred at around 3.40am on July 9 on the A20 Limekiln Street between Union Street and York Street in Dover. Officers from Kent Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit are investigating.
Fundraiser for Funeral
Emma hopes to bring Sarah back to her hometown of Banbury, Oxfordshire, for a natural burial in the Cotswolds. She explained that she and her partner cannot afford even a basic funeral after he lost his car and job in a crash involving a deer earlier this year. 'We want to bring my sister home. We are unable to afford the most basic of funerals. We would like as many people to come to the service to say their goodbye,' she wrote.
At the time of writing, the fundraiser had raised more than £1,880 towards a £2,200 target.
