Family and friends pay tribute to mother killed in traffic collision

Tamika Malo died after being struck by a car on Saturday afternoon in Lordship Road (Image: Archant)

Tamika Malo, 30, of Lordship Road, Stoke Newington, died after a collision with a car as she stepped out of a minicab at the junction of her street and Queen Elizabeth’s Walk on Saturday.

She was pronounced dead at the scene at about 2.30pm. Tamiko had been on the way home to see her daughter Taleyah, seven, who had been at a sleepover the previous night.

The family of Dwight Dennis, her partner of 11 years, paid tribute to the voluntary nursery worker. Natasha Barrett, of Crabtree Close, Shoreditch, who is in a relationship with Mr Dennis’s brother Carl and was close to Tamika, said: “It’s a great loss.

“She was always there for you. She had a wonderful sense of spirit. It’s hard to believe she’s gone.”

Ms Barrett’s son Ché Barrett-Davis, 17, said: “Tamika could tell a story with her beautiful smile. Our shock and devastation stands, but the family remains undoubtedly closer than ever to remember a beautiful soul.”

Good friend of seven years, Lorraine Hutchinson, 30, of Stoke Newington, said: “Tamika was always loving and warm. She got me through some really trying times. She would always give you her honest opinion and never take sides. She loved Dwight and Taleyah to the bone. She also loved to dance. Tamika is gone but I’ll always keep her in my heart.”

Speaking on behalf of a close group of friends, Sabrina Russell, of Clapton, said: “She was an angel. We partied on Friday and she departed on Saturday. Our hearts are empty but our minds are full of memories. Taleyah has lost one mother and gained 1,000.”

Friend Chris Brown, 26, of Clapton, added: “Tamika was a loving devoted mother to her ‘mini me’ Taleyah. Her whole persona was to be admired, always smiling, always laughing.”

The male driver was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and has been bailed to return to a north London police station in late November.