Heartbreaking tributes paid by Zoe Shapiro's parents after death crash driver jailed
The parents of Zoe Shapiro give emotional tributes to their daughter described as an 'amazing, beautiful, kind and exceptional young woman'.
"A totally reckless act of irresponsible behaviour changed everything".
The words of a heartbroken father speaking after a van driver was jailed for knocking down and killing his daughter in a crash in Great Barr.
Zoe Shapiro had left her home and was using a pedestrian crossing as she did every day on her way into school.
Tragically the 17-year-old was just a few steps away from reaching the safety of the central reservation when she was hit.
Neel Balu was driving a Mercedes Sprinter van when it struck Zoe as she crossed Birmingham Road.
Balu, a self-employed builder, was driving towards Birmingham, when the crash took place in February 2016.
Zoe, a student at the Q3 Academy, suffered serious injuries and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where she died.
Balu was arrested at the scene.
The court heard Balu had been speeding at the time of the collision and had gone through a red light before hitting Zoe.
Balu claimed in his defence that he was trying to wipe away ice from his window and had been dazzled by the sun which distracted him.
Zoe’s parents have paid tribute to their daughter.
It emerged that Zoe's brother Maximus was born severely disabled and had died at the age of four.
Her mother, Joanne Corbett, said Zoe had been her 'rock' during his death and was her 'inspiration'.
She said: “I am Zoe's mum and for 17 years I had the privilege and honour of being mother to an amazing, beautiful, kind and exceptional young woman.
"She was intelligent, funny and lit up those who she met.
"Zoe was my first born and only daughter.
"She was big sister to Maximus and TJ.
"Maximus was born severely disabled and passed away at the age of four.
"When Max was born, Zoe became more than a daughter, she was my best friend, my biggest support and my rock.
"When Max died, Zoe was just 14, I could not have functioned without her.
"She got me through my darkest hours. She was, and always will be, my inspiration.
“But on Wednesday 24 February 2016, my life was destroyed and changed forever, beyond all comprehension.
"My amazing daughter was cruelly and senselessly robbed from myself, my only remaining child and my family, who love this beautiful girl beyond words.
“I try and control my mind from wondering, but this is an impossible task.
"Not to think of all the "Never will be’s" and the "what ifs".
"But it is hard for me not to sob when I think of her beautiful face, her distinctive laugh or when her post arrives, when I hear her favourite music or think about her laughing along with her little brother TJ, a bond now stolen from him, or hearing her cheeky banter when she arrived home.
"Zoe would have been 18 on the 16 September. Instead of shopping for her gifts, and buying her her first car, as I intended, I was instead dressing her grave, alongside her little brother Max.
"I miss her in so many ways, cuddled up on the sofa with TJ under her favourite blanket. I miss singing and dancing along with her to her favourite songs, filled with happiness and laughter.”
Her father Dominic Shapiro said: “My beautiful daughter Zoë was my only child, the centre of my universe, my best friend.
"She was such an intelligent, funny and loving girl, she had an amazing life ahead of her.
"Zoë’s future was set to mould my future.
"Everything I did in life from the day she was born, was driven to ensuring I could protect her and provide her with the best life possible.
“Tragically, a totally reckless act of irresponsible behaviour changed everything, ending Zoë’s life as she innocently crossed the pedestrian traffic lights she used every day during her daily walk from our home to school.
“The devastation this has caused for myself and all who loved her is immense, far reaching and never ending.
"The aftermath of such a tragic incident just continues to come in waves of cruelty, in ways I wouldn’t have thought possible.”
Balu was jailed for seven years after a jury at Birmingham Crown Court today unanimously found him guilty of driving dangerously.
He was also disqualified from driving for nine and a half years and will be required to take an extended retest before being allowed behind the wheel again.
Sergeant Adam Green, from the force’s regional Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This was a devastating tragedy for Zoe’s family and we are pleased that the judge’s sentence reflects the enormity of Balu’s actions that day.
“His actions have cut short the life of an aspiring young woman and cost her family the joy of watching her achieve her potential.
“Balu drove for approximately 100 metres without seeing the red traffic light on the crossing that Zoe had been using correctly. Alongside driving in excess of the speed limit, travelling through a red traffic light at a minimum of 37mph, the prosecution submitted that he was ‘grossly, avoidably distracted’.
“We are grateful to the University of Warwick for their invaluable assistance in this investigation.”
Tthe force enlisted the support of Professor Mark Williams from Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University of Warwick, who used state of the art 3D imaging technology, normally used within the automotive industry, to help gather forensic evidence.
Using the scanner, the professor and his team managed to prove the injuries suffered by Zoe matched the damage caused to the vehicle.
A 3D virtual scene of the collision provided critical evidence for the prosecution.
Professor Mark Williams said: “State-of-the-art 3D imaging technology allowed us to precisely recreate multiple elements of the crime scene, and put together the pieces of what really took place.
“It’s an honour to provide evidence to this investigation and to help the police in uncovering the truth about that tragic day."
