Holding hands, young cousins in fatal hit-and-run
TWO young cousins were holding hands when they were knocked down in a fatal hit-and-run crash. Twelve-year-old Helina Kotlarova’s parents raced to the scene but she died in the road as her distraught mother held her, stroking her hair.
Zaneta Krokova, 11, remained critically ill in hospital last night following the crash in Oldham, which was witnessed by family and friends.
Greater Manchester Police immediately launched a manhunt to trace the driver of a black vW Golf, which witnesses claimed was speeding.
Last night a spokesman for the force said five men – aged 18, 23, 38, 48 and 59 – had been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
The two girls, whose families are originally from the Czech republic, had gone to a shop near their homes ahead of a new Year’s eve party when they were struck and, according to witnesses, ‘sent flying’ at 7.15pm.
Yesterday grieving relatives of Helina, who had seven sisters and one brother and who came to the UK eight years ago, gathered at the family home.
Her father robert, 40, sat with his head in his hands, and her mother Sylva, 35, was weeping, while other shocked members of the family sat in silence.
Helina’s 19-year-old sister, also called Sylva, said the family rushed to the scene 100 yards from their home seconds after the crash.
‘Her face was all bloody,’ she said. ‘She did not breathe. Mum was touching her hair.’
Miss Kotlarova said Helina and Zaneta were with a larger group of family and friends, who had already crossed the road after the trip to the shop and were waiting for the cousins on the opposite pavement.
‘But as they came to the other side of the road the car ran them over,’ she added. ‘They were holding each other’s hand when the car hit them.’
Witnesses described the vehicle as driving fast and ‘flying away’ after the collision.
Friends ran to Helina’s home to alert her parents. ‘The driver was going too fast,’ Miss Kotlarova said. ‘He then drove off and did not stop. I ran to them and they were both lying on the floor. I grabbed hold of Helina and checked for a pulse but she wasn’t breathing.
‘I couldn’t find a pulse. My mum and dad were in tears.’
She said Helina – who attended the Collective Spirit free school in Oldham – had wanted to become a singer. She added: ‘My sister loved being with her family. She loved to sing and dance. We will miss her so much.’
Sergeant Lee Westhead, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: ‘These are tragic circumstances where a young girl has lost her life and I would urge anyone who knows anything to do with this collision to contact police immediately.
‘Officers are at the scene trying to establish exactly what happened, while we also have a dedicated team trying to locate the driver of the car.’