�Tributes have been paid to a homeless woman who died after she was hit by a minibus on Saturday evening.

Theresa Lyne, 53, was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering head injuries following the collision at the junction of Hornsey Road and Shaftesbury Road, Hornsey Rise, at 8.45pm.

The driver of the private hire vehicle, which was full of passengers, stopped at the scene but was not arrested.

A teenage girl, who witnessed the crash but asked not to be named, said: “I saw Theresa staggering in the road and then the van hit her. Blood was everywhere pouring out of her head. It was horrible.”

Theresa was also known as Samantha Van Parrga and used to live in Pilgrims Way, Archway.

Friends say the victim congregated with other rough sleepers in neighbouring Elthorne Park, and flowers and cards paying their respects to Theresa are now tied to a lamppost at the crash scene.

One from Dave and Ayse reads: “Gone in body but not in our hearts and minds. You will be so dearly missed. You’re a friend indeed. You’re with the angels now.”

Goodnight kiss

A floral tribute from the Lynch and Maightan families said: “You’re gone but you’ll never be forgotten. You’ll always be in our hearts.” Another card from Hillside Block said: “God rest your soul.”

It is understood Theresa had recently become homeless.

Her friend Theresa Lynch said: “It is very sad. She had lost her home. She had nowhere to go and no money.”

Another friend, who only wanted to give his name as James, said: “I bought her last can of beer and gave her a kiss goodnight and that was the end of it.

“She was very quiet and of a nervous disposition but I did not know why. She was always up here with her friends.”

Detective Sergeant Jeff Harper, of the Road Death Investigation Unit at Alperton Traffic Garage, said: “This was a Saturday night so it must have been very busy in the area. We are hoping to speak with anyone who saw what happened in the seconds before the collision.”

A post mortem examination was held on Tuesday and gave the cause of death as a traumatic head injury. An inquest has been opened and adjourned at St Pancras Coroners Court.

Police are keen to trace her next to kin and say that Theresa would often stay in the Tufnell Park and Upper Holloway areas.

Anyone with information relating to the incident is asked to call 020 8998 5319 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.