Tragic Mitzi’s gran fights for life
THE grandmother of the girl killed by a tipper truck was fighting for her life last night as friends of the family spoke of how she had a “special bond” with her granddaughter.
Margaret Rogers was walking hand in hand with Mitzi Steady when a 32- ton lorry lost control on a steep hill, killing the four- year- old girl and severely injuring the woman.
Four people died in the crash in Weston, a suburb of Bath, Somerset.
Yesterday friends said the grandmother, moved to Bath just before Christmas to help care for her grandchildren.
They said she particularly “special bond” with Mitzi.
Friends said the “wonderful” grandmother did all she could to help her daughter Emma look after Mitzi and her elder siblings Eric and Misha.
Anna Stearns, a friend of Emma, said she often shared the school run with Mrs Rogers.
“Both the parents work, so Margaret started coming to the school to collect the elder children,” she said.
“Often she would come with Mitzi. She moved to Bath just two or three months ago. Mitzi was always giggly.
“Margaret is a really lovely family lady. Wonderful. Always so helpful.”
Mrs Rogers, who is in a critical condition in Southmead Hospital, Bristol, was walking to Weston All Saint’s Primary School with Mitzi to pick up
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Well- wishers lay flowers for Mrs Rogers and Mitzi, inset, yesterday the elder children, when the accident happened. A special assembly led by the Rev Patrick Whitworth was held yesterday at the school.
The community shared its grief, laying flowers near the crash scene. But many asked how the tragedy could have happened. Weston residents have campaigned to have the steep “rat- run” closed to lorries.
Three men in a Volvo were also killed instantly by the lorry laden with sand. They were taxi driver Stephen Vaughan, 34, of Swansea, firm director Phil Allen, 52, of Swansea, and a 59- year- old man from Cwmbran.