Mother of Cairns man Caleb Madjeric tells how she comforted son after hit and run
The mother of a 25-year-old pedestrian, struck by a car on Saturday night, has told how she comforted her badly injured son by the side of the road as police ramp up efforts to locate a four-wheel drive.
Cairns
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THE mother of a pedestrian who was struck by a car and suffered serious injuries Saturday night has recalled how she comforted her disoriented son and pleaded with him to concentrate on her voice.
Rhonda Madjeric said she rushed to the accident scene as soon as she was advised by emergency services that her 25-year-old son and father of one, Caleb Madjeric, had been hit by a car and left by the roadside.
“Caleb was disorientated and didn’t know where he was or what had happened. He didn’t know who I was. He was on a lot of medication,” Ms Madjeric said.
“I think initially it was scary, but I was very calm and I held his hand and I said to him, ‘Caleb it’s mum, just concentrate on my voice’.”
Ms Madjeric said she was at dinner with a friend when she received the call but left immediately.
“I was in Trinity Park with my girlfriend who I went to dinner with. The shock kind of set in and I felt sick,” she said.
That night he was taken to hospital where he was placed in an induced coma.
Ms Madjeric said he was out of the coma and doing fine but had a swollen left thigh on Sunday afternoon that the hospital was monitoring. He had small bruising on his frontal lobe, bruises on his stomach and a scratch on his nose.
Police are calling on any witnesses who might have seen anything and could assist with the investigation.
Mr Madjeric was struck by a vehicle on Golden Grove Dr Bently Park, near the intersection of Leeuwin Crescent about 7.30pm.
Police are searching for a blue-coloured four-wheel-drive with a bull bar that could have damage to a front metal rod holder and missing a cover for a rectangular spotlight.
Ms Madjeric hoped anyone who had footage could assist the police.
“For a human being to leave the scene of an accident is pretty low,” Ms Madjeric said.
“The neighbours heard the thud, came out and contacted the authorities. If the neighbours heard the thud, then the driver would have heard it.”
She said her son still did not remember why he was out that night but believed he might have been getting a drink from the nearby Night Owl.
Ms Madjeric said Caleb’s six-year-old son missed his father.
“We have told him what we feel is acceptable for him to know. He hasn’t seen daddy yet but hopefully he will be able to see daddy. But he is still in ICU.
“They spend a lot of time together. Caleb is teaching him how to skate and they love going to the playground, throwing frisbees, flying kites — just boy things,” Ms Madjeric said.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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