Sophie, 11, killed on pavement in hire car hit and run carnage
DETECTIVES hunting a hit and run driver who killed an 11-yearold girl disclosed yesterday that the car involved had been hired. Sophie Brannan suffered f atal injuries after being mown down by the vehicle after it mounted the pavement.
Two other people, including her tenyear-old friend, were also hit in a weekend of carnage on Scotland’s roads.
As investigations into Friday night’s tragedy in the Maryhill area of Glasgow continued, police officers confirmed the black Vauxhall Astra had been rented earlier.
The latest development followed a spate of road accidents which resulted in the deaths of two men in separate incidents in Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire.
Last night, Detective Superintendent Stevie Grant appealed for the driver involved in the Glasgow crash which resulted in the death of Sophie to ‘do the right thing’ and come forward.
He said: ‘We know the car involved had been hired and we also know who had access to it. However, we cannot, at this
‘Do the right thing and come forward’
time say the person who hired it was the driver involved in the crash.
‘We have yet to trace the person who hired this car and I would urge him to come forward and speak to police at the earliest opportunity.’
After striking the pedestrians in Sandbank Street, the five-door Astra, which had a 14 registration plate, travelled towards Lochburn Road where it collided with a Ford S-Max taxi around 7.40pm.
The Astra driver then abandoned the car and ran off towards the Forth and Clyde Canal.
The man is described as white, aged 25 to 35, of medium build with short, shaven hair. He was wearing a dark jacket, dark jeans and white trainers.
Police Scotland said Sophie’s friend Chelsea Sommerville suffered a fractured leg, and her uncle Joseph Lloyd, 36, a fractured shoulder.
Chelsea was taken by ambulance from the accident scene to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, in the city’s Yorkhill district, where she has been detained.
Mr Lloyd was taken to the city’s Western Infirmary and also remains in hospital.
Detective Superintendent Grant said: ‘The thoughts of the officers involved in the investigation and that of Police Scotland are with the family of Sophie Brannan, and the injured parties Chelsea Sommerville and her uncle Joseph Lloyd.
‘So far, the response from the l ocal c ommunity has been excellent. However, we need further information.’
He added: ‘I would appeal to anyone who saw the crash or the vehicle involved, either before or after the incident, to come forward. People may not realise that a little bit of information could be vital to this investigation.
‘It is imperative that we trace the person responsible. I would urge anyone who knows who this man is to get in touch. I would also appeal to him to do the right thing and come forward.’
Following Sophie’s death, local resident Juanma Garcia, 32, said: ‘It’s terrible and we are all shocked – she was just a wee girl.’
Another neighbour described Sophie as ‘a sweet wee thing’. She
‘We’re shocked, she was just a wee girl’
added: ‘ My children would play with her. I just can’t believe it.
‘We are a very close-knit community, so when something like this happens, everyone feels it.’
Meanwhile, a 54-year-old man was hit by a Vauxhall Astra as he crossed Love Road i n Paisley, Renfrewshire, shortly after 9pm on Saturday.
A 46-year- old man died after being struck by a Jaguar on the A82 close to the Cameron House Hotel, near Alexandria, Dunbartonshire, at 3.50am on Sunday.
The A82 was closed between Stoneymollan and the Arden roundabout for six and a half hours.
Police have appealed for any witnesses to the incident to come forward and assist officers in their investigation.