Posted on 05/07/2006 6:30:19 PM PDT by Axhandle
SOPHIE Delezio, the brave little girl who survived horrific burns after being trapped under a car that crashed into her Sydney childcare centre two years ago, has again suffered serious injuries after being struck by a car on a pedestrian crossing near her home. Sophie, who suffered chest and leg injuries in the latest accident, was on life support last night in the Prince of Wales Children's Hospital at Randwick, in the city's east.
She was in a critical but stable condition and doctors, who said her injuries were not as severe as first thought, expect her to pull through after several weeks in intensive care.
Her father, Ron, told The Weekend Australian he was "still trying to come to terms with what's happened". "Just how much tragedy can be thrown at a human being in one person's lifetime?"
Sophie's mother, Carolyn, who along with Ron was rushed by police to the hospital, asked Australians: "Say a prayer for our little girl."
Within hours of the accident, the Randwick hospital's switchboard was overwhelmed by phone calls of support. And a stream of people travelled to the hospital, lighting candles in her honour.
Sophie was being wheeled in a stroller across the pedestrian crossing by a family friend in the northern beaches suburb of Seaforth just after 4pm when a car, driven by an elderly man, failed to stop at the crossing on Frenchs Forest Road and sent the stroller flying more than 10m along the road.
The five-year-old, who lost both feet, the fingers on her right hand, an ear and all the hair on one side of her scalp in the Christmas Eve 2003 inferno at the Roundhouse Childcare Centre, had spent the day at her new primary school before the accident.
Last night, she remained unconscious after sustaining several broken ribs, a bruised lung and a fractured leg. Michael Brydon, acting executive director of the hospital, said her injuries were "unlikely to be life-threatening" but she would remain in intensive care and on life support for some time.
"Sophie, thank God, is not as badly injured as we first thought. She is still unwell. However, the head injury we thought was very serious doesn't appear to be as serious."
Peter Clark, 42, a painter and decorator from Mona Vale, on Sydney's northern peninsula, said he had pulled up at the pedestrian crossing for Sophie and her carer and their dog to cross.
He said a second car came from behind in the right-hand lane and hit Sophie's stroller.
"I think he was just in the right lane, just going along," Mr Clark said.
"It's very tragic what happened. I actually thought it was her just after the accident, when the carer said 'Sophie, Sophie', and I thought - is this Sophie Delezio?
"The car cleaned up the stroller and missed the lady by approximately a foot. All I saw was the stroller leave the carer's hand at speed.
"I pray to God that she's going to be OK."
Last night, police were questioning the driver of a Holden Apollo parked on Frenchs Forest Road.
It is understood that doctors from the Children's Hospital at Westmead, who cared for Sophie during her first accident, travelled to Randwick to work with doctors there.
The parents of Molly Wood, who was also horribly burnt in the Roundhouse Childcare Centre fire, visited Sophie's parents at the hospital. More than 1500 messages from 31 countries were posted on a website - wishesforsophie.com - by 9pm last night after it was set up in the hours after the accident.
Sophie, who turned five on April 3, was due to be the surprise flag bearer for boxer Danny Green before his WBA middleweight eliminator fight against Anthony Mundine at Aussie Stadium on May 17. "Jesus Christ, I'm shocked, I'm upset by the news. This little girl has lived through 10 lives of pain. Life's just not fair," a shattered Green said last night.
Sophie and Molly were horribly injured when a speeding car crashed into the Fairlight childcare centre on Christmas Eve 2003 after its driver, Donald McNeall, then 67, veered off the road. Charges against Mr McNeall were dismissed last year after the court could not rule out that he had suffered a seizure.
Eighty-five per cent of Sophie's body was burned, in places down to the bone.
Sophie underwent life-saving surgery at least three times during the months she was in the Westmead hospital.
After celebrating her third birthday in hospital, Sophie returned to the intensive care unit for a major skin graft operation on her back and the back of her head. At times during her treatment her parents were asked if they wanted to turn off her life support.
My life doesn't suck.
Puts it into perspective. Dynachrome cuts wa-a-a-a-y down on the whining.
Lesson for drivers: be careful when approaching crosswalks. Many folks walk—and some run—across streets without looking. Also, if you see a car stopped in another lane of traffic, slow down, as there might be a reason they stopped that could effect you.
Lesson for pedestrians: look both ways before crossing, don’t assume cars see you and don’t assume they will stop. Lesson for parents: hold your child’s hand when crossing a street.
Old wisdom all, but it bears repeating.
Her family should seriously consider relocating to an Amish community. Prayers for the child.
I'm speechless...
Two car accidents, both while she was in someone elses care.
Really puts our trivial little day-to-day complaints into perspective, doesn't it?
Prayers for this little angel.
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