A Lanarkshire schoolgirl spent 16 days in the intensive care unit after being mowed down by a car while she was crossing the road. Nine-year-old Leigha Simpson sustained multiple injuries in the horror incident on May 13.
The youngster was on her way to a Saturday night youth club when she was hit by a vehicle in Main Street, Bellshill. She sustained a broken pelvis, a broken femur, broken bones in her neck and skull, broken ribs, a forehead cut and damage to her spleen.
Her family has shared the pain they went through when Leigha was fighting for her life, and on a ventilator for 10 days. Mum Allyson Smith, 32, spoke to the Record about her daughter's health battle.
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She said: "My dad was taking Leigha to her Saturday night club and when he stopped the car, he checked the road and there were no cars. He watched Leigha cross the road when the car suddenly appeared.
"One minute she was there, then the next minute she wasn't. I saw a photo of the incident on Facebook and my mum had a gut feeling it was Leigha.
"When I managed to get in touch with my dad, I ran down to the scene. The paramedics were working on Leigha at the scene when I got there for around 30 minutes.
"It was terrifying. She sustained very serious injuries."
Leigha was rushed to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow and quickly taken for surgery to repair damage to her femur.
She was admitted to intensive care and put on a ventilator to help her body rest and recover. The following day she had surgery on her pelvis.
The schoolgirl remained on a ventilator for 10 days and spent 16 days in the intensive care unit. She is now continuing her recovery on a ward as she awaits surgery on her neck.
Allyson continued: "It was traumatising and Leigha is really scared, we are worried about her mental health.
"It was a massive relief when she was moved to a ward but there were loads of mixed emotions as we can now see her struggling and upset.
"It has been horrific and it feels like a dream as it still hasn't really hit us. I have two younger kids and they don't really understand what is going on.
"It will be a long recovery for Leigha when she comes home and she will be in a wheelchair for at least six weeks. She's going to be missing all of her school trips and things during the summer holidays.
"That has been taken away from her through no fault of her own.
"Leigha loves going out to play and going swimming. She constantly needs to be entertained so she is finding it hard to be so isolated now."
The driver of the car that hit Leigha stopped at the scene and police have since launched an investigation into the incident. Allyson is appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or who has dash-cam footage to come forward.
She said: "Drivers should be careful going round that road as the youth club is on every Saturday and everyone knows about it.
"I would ask anyone who saw what happened or who has footage of the incident to come forward and contact police."
A friend of the family is now fundraising so Leigha can enjoy a trip away when she has recovered as she will miss out on plans this summer. Donations can be made by clicking here.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 6.35pm on Saturday, May 13, we received a report of a pedestrian being struck by a car on Main Street, Bellshill.
“Emergency services attended and the pedestrian, a nine-year-old girl, sustained serious injuries and was taken to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. Her condition is described as serious but stable.
“The road was closed while officers carried out crash investigation work and re-opened around 00.15am on Sunday, May 14.”
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