West Midlands mother pays tribute to daughter, 14, killed on way to NY party by ‘drug driver’

A mother whose 14-year-old daughter died after being hit by a suspected drug-driver on New Year’s Eve spoke today of how her life has been ‘broken forever’. 

Olivia Kolek was near Rowley Regis railway station, Sandwell, in the West Midlands, at around 4.45pm yesterday, on her way to a party, when she was struck by a grey Mercedes.

Paramedics attended the scene but tragically nothing could be done to save the girl and she was pronounced dead just before 5.30pm.

Her devastated mother, Post Office assistant Izabela Maziakowska, said how Olivia had gone to her workplace to wish her a happy New Year shortly before the fatal collision.

‘She was my whole world. I cannot imagine life without her Girlanymore. I don’t know how I am going to get up and get on with my life. It is broken forever,’ the 41-year-old told The Sun.

Olivia Kolek (above) was near Rowley Regis railway station, Sandwell, in the West Midlands, at around 4.45pm yesterday, on her way to a party, when she was killed after being struck by a grey Mercedes

Her devastated mother, Post Office assistant Izabela Maziakowska (above), said how Olivia had gone to her workplace to wish her a happy New Year shortly before the fatal collision

Police are pictured at the scene. The driver of the grey Mercedes, a 39-year-old man, stopped at the scene and was arrested on suspicion of causing death by driving while under the influence of drugs. He remains in police custody

‘She came into the Post Office where I was working to wish me a happy New Year, and I gave her some money and told her to enjoy herself and have fun. 

‘That was the last time I saw her. That was her last ever new year,’ she added.

Polish couple Ms Maziakowska and her husband Lukasz Kolek, 40, had spent Christmas at home with Olivia, who helped decorate the tree and baked festive cookies. 

‘I took a picture of her while she was baking them. I will treasure them now,’ said Ms Maziakowska.

She also said that Olivia had been on her way to a house party with friends and was not sure if she had pressed the light at the pedestrian crossing before crossing the road. 

‘I think she was talking on her phone to a friend because one of her friends later said they had heard a big bang and for someone to call an ambulance.’ 

The driver of the grey Mercedes, a 39-year-old man, stopped at the scene and was arrested on suspicion of causing death by driving while under the influence of drugs. He remains in police custody. 

Ms Maziakowska said that Olivia had been on her way to a house party with friends and was not sure if she had pressed the light at the pedestrian crossing before crossing the road. (Above, police in Sandwell yesterday)

Sergeant Julie Lyman from West Midlands’ Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: ‘This is a truly awful way to start the New Year and my heart goes out to the girl’s family and friends.

‘We’ve started an investigation to understand what happened and the driver has been arrested as we believe he was driving while unfit through drugs.

‘The investigation is clearly in the early stages and I would urge people not to speculate online about what happened. It’s really not helpful and can be very upsetting for the family.’

Anyone who saw what happened or saw the grey Mercedes driving in the build-up to the crash is urged to get in touch.

The force says to message officers on Live Chat through its website or email the Serious Collision Investigation Unit directly at FL_COLLISION_INVEST@westmidlands.police.uk