Family and friends of Jessica Miranda Campos, the Murfreesboro mother killed in a police pursuit Friday afternoon, said she was a caring and hardworking woman.
Campos' husband Edgar spoke to NewsChannel 5 two days after her death saying the family has been working to raise money for her funeral.
"It still hurts," Edgar said. "She was a happy mother and loved us."
Edgar said Jessica was in the area around South Church Street and Veterans Parkway to buy fireworks, but he never heard back from her.
"I was waiting for her, and she never called back," Edgar recalled. "I drove down there with my son and immediately recognized the car and knew it was her."
Officials with the Tennessee Highway Patrol said as Jessica was pulling out of the parking lot to go northbound on South Church Street, an SUV driven by a police chase suspect slammed into the driver's side of her vehicle.
The car traveled many feet before coming to a stop off the road.
THP officials said the chase began when 28-year-old Garieon J. Simmons allegedly stole an SUV then led officers on a high-speed chase into Rutherford County.
It ended after Simmons crashed into Jessica's car and struck a second vehicle on the northbound lanes head-on.
Edgar's 7-month-old girl was in the car with Jessica, but survived thanks to her car seat. He picked her up from Vanderbilt University Medical Center on Saturday where she was treated for minor cuts and bruises.
"That baby has no mother, her son has no mother, her husband has no wife, and I have no daughter," Mildred Parker tearfully told NewsChannel 5.
Parker is Jessica's aunt but has always considered the 28-year-old her daughter. Parker said she took care of Jessica when she was eight-years-old after her mom passed away.
"My mind feels like it's in one place and my body is in another," Parker said as she came to terms with the loss.
Parker and her friend spent Sunday digging up a memorial at the site where Jessica was killed.
They covered pieces of the car that remained with flowers.
The family has set up a gofundme account to help with funeral costs. To donate, click here. Funeral arrangements had not been set as of Sunday night.
Simmons has been charged with vehicular homicide, four counts of aggravated assault, evading arrest, driving on a revoked license, two counts of being a habitual motor vehicle offender, and violation of probation.
