Child, 12, critical after allegedly being hit by ute at Bli Bli
A boy is in a critical condition after allegedly being struck by a ute on the Sunshine Coast. A man has since been charged.
Police & Courts
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A man has been charged with drink-driving as a child fights for his life after being struck by a ute on a busy Sunshine Coast road.
An initial police investigation shows about 5.10pm on Sunday, September 3, a Mazda ute was travelling on David Low Way in Bli Bli before it allegedly struck the 12-year-old boy, who had been riding a scooter.
It is understood two boys had stepped off their scooters and were walking across the pedestrian crossing at the traffic lights closest to the Maroochy River bridge, near the Bli Bli IGA, when one of the children was hit.
Emergency services arrived a short time later.
The boy was flown in a critical condition to the Queensland Children’s Hospital.
The ute driver, a 27-year-old Bli Bli man, was not physically injured and has been charged with drink-driving.
A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said the man would appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on October 30.
A hospital spokesperson said the child remained in a critical condition as of Monday morning, September 4.
A Queensland Police Service spokesperson said eastbound traffic on David Low Way was blocked following the crash.
Police are appealing to anyone who saw the incident or may have relevant dashcam/CCTV vision to come forward via Policelink or Crime Stoppers.
Some people took to Facebook and stated the incident had affected them or loved ones who had seen it.
“My housemate was approaching the lights when they turned amber,” one commenter wrote.
“He stopped and then it unfolded.
“He was very distraught when he got home also.
“Sending prayers to the little boy.”
Bli Bli resident Neil Krome, who has lived in the suburb for more than 30 years, said the roads in the area had not kept up with the population growth.
“They’re building estates everywhere, like opposite the Bli Bli school there’s an estate there now, and they’re feeding into the traffic but the roads are still the same,” he said.
Fellow resident of about eight years Gisela Wicher said it was driver behaviour that was an issue on the Sunshine Coast.
“It’s the disregard of your fellow motorist, pedestrian, bike, it’s disregard for anybody else,” she said.
“I can’t see any issue with this particular intersection.
“I hope the little guy is all right.”
She also said children had to cross the road to go to the skate park because “most of them” lived on the IGA-side of the road.
The Department of Main Roads has been contacted for comment.
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