Devoted doctor killed crossing the road on her way to work
A DOCTOR who devoted her life to helping others was knocked down and killed by a car on her way to work at a London hospital.
Jasjot Singhota, 30, an anaesthetist, was struck on a zebra crossing near her home in Tulse Hill. She was taken to King’s College Hospital where surgeons fought for eight hours to save her before she was pronounced dead from internal bleeding and head injuries.
Dr Singhota had asked for her organs to be donated and her liver and pancreas have helped save the lives of critically ill patients.
Dr Singhota, 30, who was based at St Thomas’ Hospital, studied medicine and physiology at the University of Edinburgh and was due to graduate from the Royal College of Anaesthetists in March.
The second of three sisters from Bedford, she had worked on conservation projec ts in Madagascar and children’s hospitals in New Zealand and hoped to work for Médicin Sans Frontières.
Her sister Nicole, 22, a student, said: “I feel a lot of my own pain for losing her, but I’m more upset for my sister and what she didn’t get to achieve.
“She was so modest but her brain was amazing, she could have developed a cure for something. She was a role model and guided me so much through life. It’s such a waste, she worked so hard to get all her qualifications and graduate and she said it was finally time to relax and enjoy life. My parents are broken and are really struggling. It’s one thing to lose a sibling, but worse to lose a child. It’s so typical of my sister on her very last day on Earth she was helping others.”
She said that as well as pursuing a medical career, Dr Singhota was also a grade 8 pianist and passionate netball player.
Her elder sister Neha Santasalo, 32, urged witnesses to the collision at the junction of Thurlow Park Road and Birkbeck Hill at 7.30am on Wednesday, January 25, to come forward.
She said: “When we were little, she was always getting into trouble for helping people she didn’t know, everything she has worked for was always about helping others.
“At the hospital where she worked, they held a minute’s silence for her, she was adored by her colleagues.”
Hundreds of friends and colleagues have left messages on a Facebook page in Dr Singhota’s memory. A former teacher wrote: “A formidable student, a natural leader and talented sportswoman but, more importantly, a warm, gracious and caring person.”
A colleague at St Thomas’ wrote: “I always knew that it was going to be a good day on labour ward when Jas was on as well.”
A Scotland Yard spokesman said the driver stopped and was helping police. No arrests have been made.
Witnesses or anyone with information about the collision should call police on 020 8543 5157.