THE devastated parents of a teenager, who died after being hit by a Kidderminster man on her way to school, have paid tribute to her.

Zoe Shapiro, 17, was killed when Neel Balu, of Peregrine Grove, hit her in a Mercedes Sprinter van, as she used a pedestrian crossing on a dual carriageway in Birmingham Road, in Walsall.

Zoe, a student at the Q3 Academy in Great Barr, suffered serious injuries and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where she died.

Zoe's devastated mother paid tribute to an "amazing, beautiful, kind and exceptional young woman", while her father said Zoe was his "only child, the centre of my universe, my best friend".

Zoe’s mother, Joanne Corbett, 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, February 24, 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 September 16. Instead of shopping for her gifts, and buying 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.”

Zoe’s father, Dominic Shapiro, added: “My beautiful daughter Zoe 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.

“Zoe’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 Zoe’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 sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday (May 25) after being unanimously convicted by a jury. He was jailed for seven years for causing death by dangerous driving.

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.