Family tribute to lights crash victim

Mother-of-two Samantha, a volunteer helper at a Wednesbury primary school and a Rainbows leader, died in the early hours of Sunday morning as she drove home from a party at her sister's house. Today her grieving parents Denise and Daniel Evans said their daughter was a "girl who loved life".

"She was happy, loud, outgoing, everyone loved her," said her mother Denise, of Sussex Avenue, Wednesbury.

"She was absolutely devoted to her babies, it was all about them.

"She started working at St Mary's Primary School as soon as her daughter Brogan started and she did the Rainbows Club after school every Friday."

Samantha, aged 26, of Westbury Road, Wednesbury, leaves Brogan Leigh, five, and Billy, 18 months as well as sister Natalie, 22, and brother Daniel, 18.

Shop worker Denise added: "She was feeling on top of the world because she had just lost six stone.

"She had always battled with her weight and after she had her son Billy 18 months ago she decided that was it and she signed up to a slimming club.

"She reached her target weight in November and she nearly got Slimmer of The Year."

Samantha's father Daniel, a market trader, added: "Hearing what had happened was the most devastating thing you could ever hear.

"She was our beautiful girl. She worshiped her children.

"She was the nicest person you could ever meet."

Samantha, a former pupil at Wodensborough High School, had been at her sister Natalie's house in Davey Road, West Bromwich on Saturday night.

She left to drive home at about 12.30am on Sunday.

Her Rover car crashed into traffic lights just around the corner in Dudley Street.

Natalie, 22, ran to the scene after the crash and broke the news to her parents.

The date of the funeral is still due to be arranged.