“Don’t take life for granted, it can be gone in a second,” the victim’s brother said.
PACIFIC, Mo. — George Mostow is coming to grips with the sudden loss of his sister, 61-year-old Jill Goddard.
Goddard was a mom and grandmother of two.
Mostow explained they are a close family and their dad was best friends with Goddard since she lived with him.
“She means the world to me and my family,” Mostow said. There is a hole in all of our hearts that I don’t think we will ever fill. She was amazing person that made you laugh and she would help anyone. Her heart was the purest you can imagine.”
Three years ago, Goddard became best friends with two women in Pacific.
“They became closest of friends and my sister was so excited every day ready to go to see her friends and do something. They changed her life. She was happy, truly extremely happy, she was depressed for awhile,” Mostow explained.
Over the weekend, their latest outing took them to Pacific Hair and Nail Spa after spending the morning eating breakfast together.
“They were all three together, extremely best friends, they do everything together and they went to get their nails done,” he said.
Mostow said his sister and her best friend were at the counter ready to pay, as their other best friend went to the car.
“She wanted to move the car closer because it was raining. She backed through and it was a horrible, horrible accident the way I see it,” Mostow said.
In the security footage shared with 5 On Your Side by a nearby store, the driver reversed her 2023 Ford Expedition through the salon’s wall and backed into the three people who were inside the salon, according to MSHP. Three women were struck, ages 17, 52 and 61.
Paramedics took the driver and the 52-year-old woman to Mercy Hospital St. Louis. The 17-year-old girl went to SSM Health St. Clare Hospital for examination.
Goddard died at the hospital.
“There were so many things we wanted to do and that will never happen. She was the most wonderful person, she brought smiles and laughs everywhere she went,” he said.
Mostow now carries his love for his sister and a message.
“Don’t take life for granted, it can be gone in a second,” Mostow added.
The crash is still under investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s crash reconstruction team. It could take a few weeks before it’s complete. Depending on the finding of that investigation, the report will be sent to the prosecutor’s office for consideration of charges if necessary.
Mostow said his sister wouldn’t want anything happening to her friends and called the crash an accident.
Goddard’s family set up a GoFundMe.
It said, “These funds will be used for Jill’s children and grandchildren to travel to Missouri and the services for Jill.”
To help and donate, click here.
An employee of Pacific Hair and Nail said the salon will potentially be closed for a few weeks to work on repairs in the aftermath of the crash.
