Young girl dragged 170m underneath a car goes in for her 7th surgery as the driver of the alleged incident faces court for first time

An 11-year-old Dalby girl injured when she was dragged 170m under a car will undergo her seventh surgery as the teenage driver involved appears before court.

Sarah Degier, 11, has been facing her long recovery with a sense of humour and commendable bravery. Last month she suffered burn injuries to the majority of her body after she was dragged underneath a car for 170 metres.

A P-plater who drove 173m with an 11-year-old girl stuck underneath his Toyota Landcruiser will have his case heard in court for the first time, the same day as the young girl goes in for her seventh surgery.

Dalby’s Sarah Degier has required significant surgeries to treat burn injuries she suffered to the majority of her body when she was dragged underneath the car after she was hit while riding her bike to school on the morning of May 13.

The teenage driver from Inverell in New South Wales only noticed Sarah was under the car when he heard Sarah’s screams and saw horrified bystanders try to flag him down.

He will face Dalby Magistrates Court today charged with dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm.

Sarah, her brother Jayden and parents Shane and Kate Degier have been overwhelmed by the support and thoughts from the Dalby community and complete strangers.

In the weeks since the horror crash Sarah’s mum Kate has had to go back to work in Dalby 210km away with Jayden, 12, back at school with father, Shane Degier, by his daughter’s side in Brisbane Mater Hospital.

“This whole time we have been at the hospital other than one night at Ronald McDonald House, but Sarah unfortunately had a pain episode, so we had to come straight back to emergency,” Mr Degier said.

“She was in excruciating pain so we were admitted back up to the ward.”

Sarah is expected to have multiple surgeries ahead of her, including skin grafts.

Sarah was commended by first responders at the scene for her bravery in the moments after the traumatic incident, and her father said she has continued her recovery with a fighting spirit.

“As time has gone on she has remembered more and more (about the incident),” he said.

“From the beginning she has said she is glad it happened to her and not someone else.

“She always tries to put a more comedic view on what happened – that’s how she has coped with it.”

Sarah Degier, 11, has been facing her long recovery with a sense of humour and commendable bravery. Last month she suffered burn injuries to the majority of her body after she was dragged underneath a car for 170 metres.

In the days following the crash, Mr Degier launched a Facebook fundraiser where Dalby community members and strangers from across Queensland donated more than $8400 before it closed.

“It’s all for Sarah to get better and to get things she needs to make her comfortable,” he said.

“The fundraiser did so much for Sarah during those hard surgeries and especially in those early days where it kept her mind busy.

“When she would wake up from surgery, her first question was ‘how much am I up to?’ Rather than worrying about the pain.”

“ You can only say ‘thank you’ so many times, in the end words aren’t enough.”