- A Tooele woman, Sherrie Jolley, was killed crossing an intersection last week.
- Friend J. Dawn Drapper remembers Jolley as loyal, fierce and full of life.
- Tooele police investigate the crash as the county seeks ways to improve safety.
TOOELE — A Tooele woman is being remembered for her vibrant and resilient spirit after she was hit and killed while crossing an intersection last week.
J. Dawn Drapper described her friend Sherrie Jolley, 57, as loyal, fierce and full of life.
"What a gal," she said. "I mean, she found something she believed in, and she fought to the end for it."
Jolley leaves behind her two children and a host of other family members, according to her obituary.
Drapper said she'd known Jolley for about five years; the two met as they were a part of a local group.
Last Tuesday, Feb. 10, Jolley was struck by a vehicle near 1000 N. Main and later died from her injuries, the Tooele Police Department said.
On Sunday, community members united to create a memorial for Jolley alongside a pole near the intersection where she was hit. Flowers, balloons, teddy bears and a poster that reads "We Love You Sherrie" now decorate on the pole.
"There were just so many nice posters and stuff up — the whole pole was decorated," said Drapper, who also participated in creating the memorial.
Although the two only knew each other for a short period of time, Drapper said her friend didn't have an easy life — but Jolley always remained resilient in the face of adversity.
"She'd been through a lot of trauma in her life, and she had come to the point where she was so happy-go-lucky," Drapper told KSL. "She would walk down the street singing and riding in her wheelchair or pushing her wheelchair; she just would have a smile on her face and (be) singing a song — she was just always as happy as she could be."
Tooele police said they were investigating the crash; KSL reached out to the department for an update on Tuesday but did not immediately receive a response.
But even before last week's crash, county officials were seeking ways to enhance safety on the roads.
Tooele County has asked residents to take its safety action plan survey to gather feedback on what efforts could be made to reduce serious crashes and save lives.
They invite residents to weigh in on the survey to share their concerns about traffic safety and identify key problem areas in the county.
"This helps us move closer to our goal of zero fatalities," said Brittany Lopez, Tooele County's assistant manager.
In the meantime, a GoFundMe* has been launched in honor of Jolley "to cover any end of life expenses," the crowdfunding campaign reads.
Drapper said she hopes her friend is remembered as someone who displayed care and kindness for those around her.
"She'd uplift women as much as possible and she would always tell everybody they were amazing (and that) they were beautiful," she said.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
