A grandmother’s spontaneous photo has become a tragic memory of 3-year-old Scarlett, who was struck by a car just minutes later.
Samantha Jensen shared the image on TikTok, revealing, “My mom took this picture at 4:47 pm… my daughter’s time of death was 4:52. Knowing what comes next breaks my heart.”
Jensen, who was out of town, said Scarlett was picking flowers after an ice cream outing when the photo was taken—her last moment captured alive.
While walking in their private driveway, Jensen’s family was struck by a speeding Chevy Tahoe. “My mother waved and screamed, trying to save my children, but he was too fast,” Jensen recalls. Scarlett died instantly, while her son Henry and mother suffered critical injuries.
The driver fled but was later arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Henry, airlifted to the hospital, endured a fractured spine, broken ribs, and other severe injuries. “He spent a week in the PICU and wore a full-body brace for 10 weeks,” Jensen shares.
Weeks after the accident, Jensen found a photo her mother had unknowingly taken of Scarlett’s final moments. “I checked the timestamp—it was taken just minutes before she was declared dead,” Jensen recalled.
Scarlett, born on New Year’s Day 2019, was the cherished first child of Jensen and her husband. She adored horses, unicorns, and playing soccer. “She was supposed to have a game the next day—she was so excited,” Jensen shared. But above all, Scarlett loved being a big sister, treasuring every moment with Henry, Molly, and Rosie.
Jensen describes the deep emptiness left behind, saying, “The house feels so quiet and empty without her.” Grief comes in waves—some days overwhelming, others more bearable.
“Some days, I feel like I’m drowning, and some days I can tread water,” she shares, crediting faith and therapy for helping her heal.
She openly discusses her loss on social media, encouraging others to grieve without silence. “Talk about your people, scream their names, and never stop sharing their stories.”
At first, seeing the last photo of Scarlett was unbearable. “How do you accept a ‘last picture’ of your child?” But now, two years later, she treasures it. “It captures the peace of her last moments… I will forever picture her happy, picking flowers with her best friend and Meemaw.”