Dad describes feelings of terror when he heard a car hit his daughters walking to Waiuku school

The two girls were hit by a car walking to View Road School in Waiuku. Photo / File

The father of the two sisters who were mowed down by a car on their way to school yesterday said his heart sank when he heard the news.

Eden, 10, and Zurile Wilson, 8, were struck by a car while walking to school in Waiuku, rural South Auckland.

Eden described the terrifying moments as the car skidded towards her.

"We saw the car skidding on the road, and then we moved back into the yard," Eden told Fairfax.

"I remember it coming towards us and then it went all black."

The driver, who is facing driving charges, had lost control of the vehicle and mounted the kerb on Hamilton Drive.

The girls' father, Kaleb Wilson, had just arrived at Auckland University where he studies math and chemistry when he got a call from his wife Lisapeta. He said his heart sank when he heard the news.

"The feeling [when I got the phone call] was like ... almost similar to the feeling you get when you are on a rollercoaster - your guts just drop out from under you," Kaleb told Fairfax.

The sisters were rushed to Middlemore Hospital by ambulance.

Wilson and Lisapeta, who also have a one-year-old son Jonathan, rushed to see their daughters there.

Wilson said it was a relief to see them awake, talking and "just to see that they weren't too badly injured".

Staff at the school the girls attend were in shock after the crash.

"They are really lovely, sweet girls," said a View Road School administration worker.

"They were following the road rules.

"We're all in shock and just glad it wasn't worse.

"It's bad enough as it was but we're thankful they weren't killed."

School principal Chris Hull raced to comfort the injured sisters as soon as she heard about the crash.

"She told me one of the girls was in extreme pain," the school worker said.

The girls' grandmother was also believed to be walking with them when they were hit.

Eden is now back at home, but still has a slight limp, which means she will be off school for the rest of the week and might have to take time off from netball.

Wilson told Fairfax the girls were pretty much inseparable although they are quite different. He described Eden as being very extroverted, talkative and social "and she tends to be the centre of attention whatever group she is in".

While Zurile "is a bit of a bookworm. She is really bright, always top of the class".

Wilson said it would be a while before he would let his daughters walk to school again.

"I'm probably going to drop them off for a while."

A 30-year-old Waiuku man has been charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing injury.