Injured girl to be woken from coma

An 8- year-old girl was been hit by a car at a controlled pedestrian crossing on Titirangi Rd, Auckland. The girl was rushed to Starship children's hospital with serious injuries. Photo / Nick Reed

An 8-year-old girl struck on a pedestrian crossing is expected to be woken from her coma today.

She was badly injured when hit at a light-controlled crossing by a 62-year-old woman who allegedly ran a red light on Titirangi Rd on Thursday.

The girl, who had been crossing near the corner of Croydon Rd just after 9am when she was hit, suffered a broken leg and a head injury and was put into a coma.
Her uncle, speaking to the Herald yesterday, said doctors had told the girl's parents she would be woken up today.

"They had to drill a hole in her head to see if there was any swelling and to release any pressure."

He said her parents were coping remarkably well.

The little girl was their only daughter, he said.

Yesterday, the girl remained in a serious but stable condition.

It is understood her mother had just given her 20c and the child had slipped away to visit a nearby shop.

Police said the girl had pressed the button and waited until the "green man" signal showed, meaning she could cross.

The girl's school, Fruitvale, posted a message on its Facebook page, saying, "Our love goes to her family."

The girl's aunt drove past her just seconds before the youngster was hit and saw the crash in her rearview mirror, the girl's uncle said.

She saw the impact and told her husband the little girl had flown and landed hard about 30 metres from where she was hit.