The driver of the car, a 64-year-old Doncaster East woman, stopped to assist the girl.
Resident John Grouios says drivers frequently speed down the hill.Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui
The girl's father, grandfather and family friends arrived at the scene on Thursday morning and were too upset to speak to the media.
Family friend Sukh Ghanas said the girl and her nine-year-old sister were playing at a nearby park with their parents before the accident.
The siblings were together at the time of the accident but it is unclear where their parents were.
He said they were not crossing the road when she was hit by a car.
"They were walking on the side of the road," Mr Ghanas said.
"We want the truth to be out there."
Residents have described the intersection as dangerous because it is where Victoria Street dips down into a valley.
John Grouios lives 100m from where the crash occurred. He heard “a big thud” from inside his house and walked outside to see what was wrong.
“There was a girl who was distraught and another girl lying on the grass who was in a bad way,” Mr Grouios said.
“To see a little girl like that, I have six children, it was hard.
“There were people helping her and I heard the sirens coming.”
His son-in-law lives nearby too and also saw the aftermath of the crash when he happened to drive past. He was too distressed to talk to the media.
Mr Grouios has lived in the area for years. He and his wife never let their children cross the road alone because of the speed at which cars come down the hills that lead to the dip where the girl was killed.
“Even just to take them to athletics 200m away we would drive them.”
He called on VicRoads to install speed cameras at the site. He and another nearby resident, Joe Stafrace, also want Victoria Street’s intersection with George Street changed.
“If you just watch the intersection you’ll notice someone will be in the left-hand lane to go straight, and another in the right-hand turning lane,” Mr Stafrace said.
“But sometimes they don’t know it is a right turn only, and both cars go straight and race to get into one lane.”
Doncaster resident Joe Stafrace points to traffic on Victoria St.Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui
Both men said accidents occurred frequently here, but never recalled a fatality like this.
It is a busy pedestrian intersection because there are two schools, a cricket club and athletics track nearby.
Another man, who has been a resident for more than 40 years, told 3AW there was a crash or a near miss every few weeks.
"It's a very, very bad intersection... something must be done," he said.
Police have asked for anyone with dash cam footage of the incident, or anyone who saw the victim before the incident, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anthony is a reporter at The Age
Most Viewed in National
Loading
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Eight-year-old girl dies after being hit by car in Doncaster - The Age"
Post a Comment