Girl, 15, fighting for life after being struck by burn-out vehicle = PERTH

[FG XR]

Girl, 15, fighting for life after being struck by burn-out vehicle

A 15-YEAR-OLD girl is fighting for her life in hospital after being mown down and dragged 80m by a stolen car in the northern suburb of Beldon.
The Padbury teen, known as Ella, suffered severe head injuries and is fighting for life after a red Holden Commodore ute ploughed into her and a male youth on Redfin Crescent about 1am yesterday.

While the male was not seriously injured, Ella was dragged 80m along the suburban road. She was rushed to Joondalup Health Campus and later transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital where she underwent surgery yesterday.

Police have launched a manhunt for the driver, believed to be a 17-year-old man, who fled on foot seconds after the crash, leaving the damaged car by the roadside and the critically injured girl for dead.

Yesterday, clumps of bloodied hair and a trail of blood stained the roadway as police launched a Major Crash investigation.

Witnesses said the driver had earlier been at the gathering of about 15 youths, aged between 15 and 18, who were invited back to the Beldon house after another party nearby.

Callum Woodyard, 16, told how he and a mate had tried desperately to free Ella who was trapped under the vehicle in the minutes after the crash, as other hysterical partygoers crowded around.

``Everyone was out the front and the driver was supposed the leave and he didn't and he put his foot down and she didn't get out of the way and she went under the wheel,'' said Mr Woodyard, sporting a bloodied graze above his left eye.

``My mate was trying to get her out, so was I, and then he (the driver) just kept going.

``It happened so quickly and she went under the wheel.

``(She was dragged) about 100m...Her hair was everywhere....I thought she died.

``Everyone started laying bombs into him and like punching him and trying to pull him out of the car.

``Everyone was so scared, crying.''

Residents Donna and Jeff Paul said they had been sitting in their front room having coffee when they were disturbed by ``an almighty bang''.

``It was a terrible commotion out on the street. We thought it was a riot. It looked like they were attacking the car. They were going berserk, yelling and screaming,'' Mrs Paul said.

Sergeant Kevin Wisbey, from the Major Crash Squad, yesterday called on the driver to hand himself in to police. He said the crash and subsequent injuries to the young girl were an ``absolute tragedy''.

The Sunday Times understands the wanted driver is known to police over an incident at Greenwood train station in January 2009 in which an officer was injured while trying to stop a stolen car and a shot was fired by police.

It is believed the juvenile does not hold a valid driver's licence and the vehicle was stolen from a northern suburbs house on Friday night.

Police are also probing whether the ute, which sustained damage to the front driver's side, crashed into a lightpost on nearby Eddystone Ave, Heathridge shortly before Ella was injured.

Police have interviewed a 15-year-old girl, who was a passenger in the ute at the time of the crash.

Sources said it was unlikely that police could conclusively determine if alcohol was a factor because blood-alcohol testing must be conducted within four hours of the crash, to comply with the Road Traffic Act.

Ella's parents were yesterday too distraught to speak to comment.

Anyone with information about the crash or the whereabouts of the driver is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

[g220ba]

Absolutely disgraceful behaviour, so basically we have stolen car thats possibly been involved in another incident the day before, an underage driver with no license who flees the scene and a poor 15yo who's life (if she survives) has changed forever.

This is less about a burnout and more about the moronic behaviour of the individual who was behind the wheel. When they catch him lock him up for a very long time so he actually understands what damage he's caused to so many lives.

Again uttery disgraceful.

[Nikked]

So why do they have to report it as a "Burn out vehicle" its a shame they use a poor girls horrific accident to attack hoons...

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by Nikked

So why do they have to report it as a "Burn out vehicle" its a shame they use a poor girls horrific accident to attack hoons...

I guess that the headline “Girl struck by stolen vehicle” won’t sell as many papers in Perth tomorrow.

Disgraceful journalism and a low act my the mongrel driving the stolen ute.

[FG XR]

agree with all comments, more about a road tragedy than a burnout vehicle i.e "hoons"

[gtxb67]

it may or may not be typical journalism but - there is a girl fighting for her life and people are concerned about whether it is fair to hoons or not - something tells me there isn't much difference between journalists and most of society. they only care about their own interests

who cares about the headline - there is a critically injured girl whose life is at stake

[g220ba]

Originally Posted by gtxb67

it may or may not be typical journalism but - there is a girl fighting for her life and people are concerned about whether it is fair to hoons or not - something tells me there isn't much difference between journalists and most of society. they only care about their own interests

who cares about the headline - there is a critically injured girl whose life is at stake

Well said mate the other young bloke that was hit was very lucky, let's all hope she pulls through with as little lasting effects as possible.

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by gtxb67

who cares about the headline - there is a critically injured girl whose life is at stake

I think it goes without saying that the welfare of the girl is more important and I doubt that anyone here reading this would think otherwise.

[Auturbo6]

Im curious about what a person was doing near a vehicle doing a burn out. Unfortunatly in life, unnessasary risk results in a catastrophy. Everyone knows what young people (and often old) are like. I appologise if this sounds calase. The amount of social issues in this story could fill this thread for weeks.

[FG XR]

according to reports she was walking home with a friend from a party....

somehow i think media made that up and all the teens were watching the guy doing the burnout and he lost control... never the less that girls life has changed

[sprint347dave]

what is a 15 year old doing out at 1am

[uranium_death]

Forget about headlines...that's really minor.

A girl is fighting for life.

The person who has done this is old enough to accept full responsibility for this (breaking into and stealing a motor vehicle, grevious bodily harm (or manslaughter if she happens to pass), fleeing the scene of a crime etc.

He deserves a nice prison sentence...

BUT

A weak as water judge will decide that this pile of garbage deserves another chance (how many more?), and will give him a ****weak sentence of community service or a suspended sentence.

God Bless Australia!

[uranium_death]

Originally Posted by sprint347dave

what is a 15 year old doing out at 1am

Being a 15 year old.

[xr6turbo2005]

Originally Posted by sprint347dave

what is a 15 year old doing out at 1am

the second thing that come into my head.

[fiery]

That is a horrible story to read as a parent.

My heart and thoughts go out to the parents of the poor girl that is fighting for her life and all their families and friends but also to the friends that saw her run over and in such a horrific way before paramedics arrived.

I personally couldn't care less if this little mongrel driving the vehicle was taking off, doing a burn out or whatever.. he showed his maturity and decency when he stole the car in the first place, running the girl over and then being a coward and running from the scene. I guess in a way if he was being beaten upon then maybe it was a sensible thing to run but geez, he could have handed himself in already.. coward!!

Don't ask why the girl or any other teens were out at 1am. You do not know the full story, I was out way later as a 15 year old and I bet some of you were too!!!!!!!

[FG XR]

hate to think what the other kids and friends saw. Life changing not only for the girl but for friends of the girl see her being dragged under then the end result. Just horrific. .

[chrisfpv]

Sad thing to hear, terrible.

Everyone was out the front and the driver was supposed the leave and he didn't

From this part here it sounds like he may have been a possible gate crasher perhaps? Trying to show off in front of teenage girls and clipped her as he was taking off?

[FG XR]

Sources said it was unlikely that police could conclusively determine if alcohol was a factor because blood-alcohol testing must be conducted within four hours of the crash, to comply with the Road Traffic Act.

Their goes any justice for the family aswell..... : He will probally get off lightly because they wont be able prove he was drunk and no doubt his lawyer will argue the girl walked infront of the car. : :

[bernadette86]

Tragic just tragic. I hope she pulls through. And karma will take justice upon this coward of a human no actually not human he does not deserve that title. Im young gen y hey you idiots out there stealing cars and being morons grow up and grow old in prisons with people you deserve to be around, that behaviour is unacceptable, they should spend sentences long sentences with rapists, murderers and other various unsavoury characters.

[duaned]

I hope they throw the book at the dumbarse, I would certainley like to get my hands on him.

[89.SVO]

Originally Posted by 84ltd

Absolutely disgraceful behaviour, so basically we have stolen car thats possibly been involved in another incident the day before, an underage driver with no license who flees the scene and a poor 15yo who's life (if she survives) has changed forever.

This is less about a burnout and more about the moronic behaviour of the individual who was behind the wheel. When they catch him lock him up for a very long time so he actually understands what damage he's caused to so many lives.

Again uttery disgraceful.

what makes you say he was unlicensed? you get your P's at 17 in WA

[jaydee]

Well heres a copy of the news report for when he dragged a police officer along with his arm caught in the window. The offender was released on a court order, gee that really taught him a lesson didn't it. Pathetic justice system again dealing with juveys.

Yet they had the nerve to charge an officer for discharging his firearm, which fortunately he beat.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-...er-firing-gun/

[montyv8]

Originally Posted by WILDEB

what makes you say he was unlicensed? you get your P's at 17 in WA

from the OP:

It is believed the juvenile does not hold a valid driver's licence and the vehicle was stolen from a northern suburbs house on Friday night.

[wulos]

Guys - let's maintain some sanity in this discussion please.
I am sure that we all agree that the circumstances & results of this incident are nothing short of tragic. It is worth remembering that any one of us could just as easily been involved in a life altering incident similar to this one at sometime during our lives. Condolences to those personally effected by these events.

Let's leave the kneejerking, & ineffective namecalling / expressions of outrage / calls for tougher sentencing etc to those that do it best (ie the politicians & sensationalist journo's)

[XR6_661]

Originally Posted by sprint347dave

what is a 15 year old doing out at 1am

How old is 15 really?

[aye you]

When they find him i hope they shoot him