Samantha Jensen opened her heart to share the profound sorrow she carries from the tragic loss of her three-year-old daughter, Scarlett, nearly three years ago, captured in a cherished final photograph taken by her mother moments before the devastating event.
Samantha revealed that gazing at the last image of Scarlett—full of life, yet so close to the tragedy that followed—remains a deeply emotional experience. She recounted to People that on October 7, 2022, she and her husband attended a wedding, entrusting Scarlett and her younger brother, Henry, to the care of their grandmother, Jamie.
“That afternoon, they ventured out for ice cream and a leisurely stroll,” Samantha shared with People. “Upon returning to our back driveway, Scarlett eagerly left her stroller to pick flowers. That’s when my mom snapped the last photo I have of her, so vibrant and alive.”
Moments after that tender snapshot, as Jamie, Scarlett, and Henry walked along the family’s private driveway in Oldtown, Idaho, a Chevy Tahoe sped toward them. “My mother waved frantically, shouting for the driver to stop, and tried to pull my children to safety, but the vehicle was moving too quickly,” Samantha recalled. “Scarlett passed away almost immediately, and my mom and Henry sustained critical injuries.”
The driver fled the scene on foot but was later apprehended miles away and is now serving a 10-year prison sentence. “Henry was airlifted to a children’s hospital, where doctors discovered a fractured spine, six broken ribs, a broken jaw, a broken collarbone, a liver laceration, and other injuries,” Samantha told People. “My mom suffered several broken bones but was eventually discharged from the hospital.” She added, “Henry remained in the PICU for a week before he was stable enough to return home, wearing a full body brace for 10 weeks.”
Weeks after the tragedy, Samantha discovered the final photograph of Scarlett. “My mom lost her phone during the incident, and it took time to recover it,” she explained. “When we found it, I browsed through the photos and saw that one. Checking the timestamp, I realized it was taken only five minutes before Scarlett’s official time of death, likely seconds before the impact.”
Initially, the photograph was too painful for Samantha to face. Now, nearly three years later, she sees it as a poignant reminder of the joy her daughter embodied. “I’m endlessly grateful for that photo,” she shared with People. “It holds the serene essence of her final moments, surrounded by beauty as she took her last breaths. I’ll always envision her joyful and carefree, picking flowers alongside her best friend and Meemaw.”
Please share this story with your loved ones on social media to honor Scarlett’s memory.
Bored Daddy
Love and Peace
