By SCOTT INGLIS
Two sisters were hurled from a van into the front yard of a house after the vehicle hit a power pole, leaving one of them, aged four, fighting for her life.
The girls, with four other siblings, were in a van driven by their father yesterday when he smashed into the concrete pole on Buckland Rd, Mangere.
Police believe none of the children was wearing a seatbelt.
The van hit the pole about 1.40 pm, causing it to snap at its base and come crashing down across the road.
On impact, two of the children were thrown about 10m from the van, landing side by side on a front lawn.
They narrowly missed a letterbox and a car parked in the driveway.
It is not known if they went through a closed or open van window.
The other children and their father suffered minor to moderate injuries.
The children, believed to be aged between eight months and nine years, were taken to Middlemore Hospital. No one else was hurt.
The critically injured girl, who suffered head trauma, was late yesterday transferred to intensive care at the Starship children's hospital.
Medical and emergency staff described the 4-year-old's condition as life-threatening.
Victim Support were brought in to help the family, who have not yet been named.
Buckland Rd resident Dancy Riki said she and her friend, Faaki Pailate, heard the crash and rushed out to find the children lying on the lawn.
They summoned help and applied first aid until ambulances arrived.
Miss Riki said the most seriously hurt girl appeared unconscious at first, but then opened her eyes and began crying and trying to stand up.
Senior Sergeant Mark Richards of Mangere said it remained unclear why the father lost control. He was initially interviewed by police but then taken to Middlemore Hospital.
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