Girl back to her ‘cheeky self’
At the end of the 12-year-old Hamilton girl’s hospital bed sits a teddy bear.
It’s adorned in the colours of Berkley Normal Middle School and is accompanied by a new uniform to replace the old one that was destroyed.
Cards, flowers and balloons surround the recovering Year 7 student – gifts to let her know the school is thinking of her.
A week after the girl was left in a critical state after being hit by a ute at a light controlled crossing as she walked to school on Morrinsville Rd, she is back to her ‘‘cheeky self’’.
‘‘She’s a very brave young lady and is doing well,’’ Principal Nathan Leith said on Tuesday.
The girl suffered head and facial injuries and a broken leg in the collision last Wednesday morning, police said.
She underwent surgery and was now in a stable condition in a ward at Waikato Hospital.
On Tuesday the girl’s teacher, team leader and friends visited her in the ward, Leith said.
She was returning to her ‘‘old-self’’, he said, missing her friends and coming to school.
‘‘We’ve taken her a Berkley teddy bear dressed in Berkley uniform that sits at the end of the bed and lets her know the whole of the school are behind her and thinking of her.
‘‘They report that she has been making really good progress.’’
The local Hillcrest girl was on her way to school when she was struck by a ute as she crossed from the western side of Morrinsville Rd towards Berkley Ave around 8.15am.
Police said earlier the white Toyota Hilux towing a trailer was travelling east towards Morrinsville through the 60kmh zone when the girl was at the crossing.
Leith spoke to the girl just hours after the accident.
‘‘That actually made my day to be able to hear her talk and knowing she was going to be okay was a huge relief.’’
Leith didn’t want to comment on the details of the accident but confirmed the crossing was manned by teachers that morning.
He credited staff, and passersby who stopped to help, in what was a ‘‘traumatic and stressful’’ time.
‘‘They maintained privacy and dignity for the student and it’s really heart warming to know there’s such supportive and caring people in the community.’’
The outpouring of support had been overwhelming, he said. People had rallied, delivering meals to the family.
‘‘I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the support of the community and the communication we have had from people wanting to support and assist the family.’’
The school has replaced the girl’s uniform ready for her to return to school, although there was no timeframe on when this would happen.
‘‘We’re hoping she can participate in some of our end of year activities but we’re not sure.’’
Police had spoken to the driver of the ute – a 30-year-old man – and were continuing to investigate the circumstances, Sergeant Steve Jones of Waikato police’s Serious Crash Unit said.
He confirmed the girl was recovering well and fears of a severe brain injury were subsiding as she is now talking and asking questions about the crash.