Girl hit on Auckland pedestrian crossing: 'We're lucky she's alive'

Penny Taniela says it was heartbreaking to see Lucinda, 6, unconscious on the ground and she is still processing the incident. Photo / Jason Dorday

Mother credits medics for saving life of girl hit on crossing and says no one’s to blame.

As Penny Taniela ran down the street towards her unconscious daughter she didn't know what to think or expect.

Minutes later, there was simply relief as her 6-year-old daughter started to cry.

Lucinda Taniela was on a traffic light-controlled pedestrian crossing on Titirangi Rd on December 18 when she was hit by a car being driven by a woman aged 62.

The collision sent the little girl flying about 30m down the road.

Lucinda hit the ground hard and was knocked unconscious. She was not breathing when those first on the scene - an off-duty nurse and paramedic - got to her.

Her mother Penny Taniela believes their quick actions saved Lucinda's life.

"They were in the third car behind and they had all their kit with them," she said.

"They got her breathing again ... I think they were the difference between her surviving or dying.

"Without them this might have been a very different story."

Mrs Taniela said just before 9am her daughter had asked her for 20 cents, which she gave her.

"She didn't tell me what it was for. She didn't tell me she wanted to go to the shops," she said.

Mrs Taniela's cousin saw the impact and ran to get her.

"I was shocked, I didn't know what I was doing. I didn't know what to expect ... I ran down there, I wasn't crying or anything," she said.

"I saw Lucinda lying in the street and I was just speechless. I didn't know what to think and I am still processing the whole thing now.

"She was knocked out for maybe five minutes and then she started crying. It was heartbreaking but when she cried it was such a relief because I knew that was a good sign."

Lucinda suffered a fractured pelvis and broken left thigh and a head injury.

She was placed in an induced coma for five days.

"We just wanted her to wake up, it was pretty stressful," Mrs Taniela said.

Lucinda spent a further three weeks in Starship Children's Hospital - including Christmas Day - before she was transferred to a head injury rehab centre on the North Shore.

Three weeks later she was allowed to return home. Lucinda is now back at school for two hours a day but is still recovering.

"She is very lucky and we are very lucky to have her," said Mrs Taniela.

Lucinda does not remember being hit by the car but told the Herald about the leadup to what she calls "the crash".

"I was going to the shops to get yellow lollies. I got four and I was coming home," she said.

"I didn't tell Mum I went to the shop, I didn't want to share my lollies with my brothers. I pushed the button and I saw the green man. I was walking ... I didn't want to get run over."

Mrs Taniela said there was no anger in her family towards the driver.

"We received a letter from her, she wants to meet us and we'd like to meet her. It was an accident. No matter how careful you are, these things will always happen," she said.

"I think she will probably be charged but If I could have a say I don't think I want her to be charged." The Tanielas wanted to thank everyone who has helped Lucinda - including the paramedics that attended and those first on the scene, the doctors and nurses at Starship and specialists at the rehab centre.

"Thank you for saving my life and thank you to the doctors for making me strong again," Lucinda said.