'She was a good person:' Vigil held for West Allis woman who was hit, killed by suspected impaired driver

SHOREWOOD, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Sitting by a metal statue in Shorewood's Atwater Park are the initials "SK", spelled out with small, white candles. 

It stands for Stephanie Kruse, a 38-year-old West Allis woman, who died on Oct. 2 after a suspected impaired driver hit her while she was biking by 65th and Greenfield.

That statue, a favorite of Kruse's, is now home to a vigil created on Saturday night, on Oct. 8, by loved ones and former students of Custer High School's student advisor.

"She was smart and dedicated," said Adrian Henry. "She could fix the tone of the classroom in just a few words."

Henry said Kruse taught him how to follow his dreams.

"If you got something you want to go for, go for it," Henry said. "She was a nice woman. She always held a good attitude, a good smile. She was a good person."

Loved ones of Stephanie Kruse, the 38yo #WestAllis woman who was killed last Saturday by an impaired driver, are setting up a candle light vigil at a statue in #Shorewood they say meant a lot to Kruse. @CBS58pic.twitter.com/7YxsQHU8eG

— Ellie Nakamoto-White (@ellienw_news) October 8, 2022

Alorsheirs Osborne, who referred to Kruse as her "second mom", said "it's still hard to know that she's gone."

"I wish she was here. I miss her. She's going to stay in my heart," Osborne said.

Police said Kruse was riding her bike when Donzell Lamont Payne struck her while speeding on Oct. 1. 

According to the criminal complaint, Payne admitted to driving without a valid license and to smoking marijuana earlier in the day.

The report said at the time of the incident, he couldn't maintain his balance, had red, glassy eyes and couldn't recall what had happened.

His next court date is set for Monday, Oct. 10.