Girraween hit and run death victim identified as Verna Goldsmith

The grieving daughter of a woman killed in an alleged hit and run has remembered her mother as ‘dedicated to her whole family’. Read her heartbreaking tribute here.

The grieving daughter of a woman killed in alleged hit and run in rural Darwin says her mother was a “dedicated person”.

Speaking publically for the first time just more than a week after Verna Goldsmith’s death, her daughter Debra Goldsmith is still coming to terms with the loss.

“I’ve lost a mother for life,” Debra, 20, said.

“She was a very good person.

“She was very funny, she was a dedicated person.

“Not only was she dedicated to her kids, she was dedicated to her whole family - her nieces, her nephews, her siblings, her cousins.

Verna Goldsmith, 39, was killed on September 25 after she was hit by a car in an alleged hit and run at Girraween in Darwin.

Verna Goldsmith was killed in an alleged hit and run at Girraween on September 25. Picture: Supplied by family

NT Police said the crash happened just before 2.30am on Power Rd, about 35km from the Darwin CBD, and the driver did not stop.

A 17-year-old boy was later arrested at a property in Humpty Doo after information from the public.

Debra said her mother, who grew up in Point Pearce in South Australia before moving to Darwin about three years ago, was found by her long-term partner after he heard the crash.

“He heard the screeching of the tyres,” she said.

Power Rd at Girraween where Verna Goldsmith was killed in alleged hit and run. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“For me it hurts because I wasn’t even there.”

Debra said NT police told her there were allegedly seven male teenagers in the car, which was being driven with no headlights on.

“They need to realise she’s left four of her children in heartbroken pieces,” she said.

“It is horrible. They get to go home to their parents.”

A 17-year-old boy has been charged with the alleged hit and run death of Verna Goldsmith at Girraween on September 25. Picture: Supplied by family

A NT Police spokesman said police could not comment on the matter is it was before the courts.

“They should be held accountable for their actions,” Debra said.

She said her mother had been walking home hitchhiking but did not have drugs or alcohol in her system.

“She doesn’t drink, she doesn’t do drugs,” she said.

Power Rd at Girraween was closed on September 25 after the alleged hit and run death of Verna Goldsmith. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Following her mother’s death, Debra said she would like to see more policing in rural areas and tighter driving restrictions on provisional drivers.

The alleged driver has been charged with hit and run causing death and provisional driver with alcohol in blood.

He was bailed to appear in court on October 10.

Detective Senior Sergeant Brendan Lindner in September said a forensic toxicological analysis would be undertaken to determine whether illicit drugs contributed to the crash.

Originally published as Girraween hit and run death victim identified as Verna Goldsmith