THE husband of a woman mowed down by an out-of-control car says his wife was "the perfect mum, the perfect wife, and a perfect human being".
Kremena Mersinkova, 40, died after a red Citroen Saxo ploughed into her as she walked along Godstone Road, in Purley, at 4am on Saturday.
She was walking with her husband Plamen, 45, who escaped with minor injuries.
The couple, who only moved to this country last March and, until recently, lived in Barmouth Road, Shirley, were on their way home from University College Hospital, in Euston, where they worked as cleaners.
They made it as far as Purley by bus, before looking to walk the rest of the way to their new home in Whyteleafe.
Mr Mersinkov paid a touching tribute to his wife.
He told the Advertiser: "She was the perfect mum, the perfect wife; she was a perfect human being.
"It's the biggest loss for us as a family that we could possibly suffer, nobody could ever replace her, and will ever replace her in our hearts.
"Her future is gone and our loss is infinite."
Mrs Mersinkova was the mother of two daughters, Rosemary, 16, who lived with her parents in Whyteleafe, and Vicky, 21, who is studying in the family's native Bulgaria.
The couple first settled in Shirley with friend Dilianka Dimitrova, who said: "It is so sad; I still can't really believe it happened. She was the kind of person who always had a smile, even if she was sad you'd never know because she always had a happy face.
"She had that attitude about everything in her life."
Close family friend Hristo Na Plamen Priatel added: "I am a very old friend of the family, over 25 years, and it is a terrible shock.
"We're all very sad, as are her two daughters, it is an awful time."
The three occupants of the car, two men aged 25 and 26, and a 20-year-old woman, were all taken to St George's for treatment and later discharged.
The driver, aged 25, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, and on suspicion of driving with excess alcohol. He was taken to a south London police station and later bailed to return in April, pending further inquiries.
Detective Sergeant Mick Woollard, who is investigating the incident, said: "This was a horrendous collision where an innocent hardworking wife and mother has lost her life.
"Her family are in complete shock and cannot believe this has happened."
The cleaning company which employed Kremena Mersinkova and her husband have paid tribute to the couple. Gary Tate, from CMF, said: "They were a lovely couple, she was lovely and so hardworking. "It's just unbelievable. I got the phone call telling me what had happened at 5am on Saturday, and you know no one would do that but you think it was a prank caller, you know? You think someone's winding you up. "As a company, we are thinking of her family and her husband, who is also a lovely man. You don't really know how they can move on from this. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 020 8285 1574.
