Left ‘like a dog on the road’: Mother calls for hit-run driver to come forward

The mother of a teenage girl run down and “left like a dog on the side of the road” at a hoon meet has called on the driver to hand himself in.

The mother of a teenage girl run down and left broken and bleeding “like a dog on the side of the road” at a hoon meet has called on the driver to hand himself in.

Dyani Lipka, 17, was left with bleeding on her brain, a broken wrist, fractured ankle and various cuts and bruises after she was hit by a car as it fled police on Saturday night.

Police had arrived at Spine St, an industrial backstreet near the Centenary Highway in Brisbane’s Sumner, about 10.30pm after receiving reports of hooning from a member of the community.

It is understood there were possibly hundreds of people gathered who fled for their cars after spotting police.

The Holden Commodore fleeing the scene

Katrina Lipka said her daughter had gone to the event with friends and was crossing the road when she was hit by a white Holden Commodore VE ute with no registration plates.

The driver, described as a bald caucasian man with face tattoos, did not stop and police have not been able to identify him despite several public appeals for information.

“Somebody knows,” Ms Lipka said.

“Put yourself in our position – think about if it was your daughter, or your sister, your wife, your girlfriend.

“Things could have been so different, so much worse for Dyani. We might not have had her here.

“How can someone leave her on the side of the road like a dog? He knew he hit her.

“Whatever he was running from, he is running from more now.”

Ms Lipka said her daughter – who is not a car enthusiast – had gone to a meet with friends.

She said she woke to a phone call shortly after 11pm from police telling her to get to the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

The gash on Dyani Lipka's head

Dyani Lipka was left with a head injury, a broken wrist and fractured ankle

“She was just there as a spectator, spending a Saturday night out with her friends,” Ms Lipka said.

“Obviously she doesn’t have a huge recollection of what happened.

“From what I’ve pieced together, she’s crossed the road to get back to the car and this guy has hit her and kept going.

“(The police said) we’re here with your daughter, she’s been involved in a car accident.

“She’s been hit by a car and we’re taking her up to the PA Hospital.

“It was horrible.”

Ms Lipka said her daughter had to be monitored in hospital for bleeding on her brain and had surgery on her broken wrist.

She now faces extensive therapy, including occupational and speech therapy, as well as neurological follow-up appointments.

Katrina Lipka and her daughter Dyani

Dyani won’t be able to do her year 12 exams, which are scheduled to take place in the coming days, and can’t drink or drive for six to eight weeks.

“It’s her 18th on Sunday,” Ms Lipka said.

“And she will be going to her formal wearing a moon boot with a cast on her arm.”

Ms Lipka called on the driver – or anyone who knows his identity – to come forward.

“Please, somebody come forward,” she said.

“You can be anonymous. They’re not going to get themselves in trouble – they are going to give us justice.

“As for the driver, he should own up. He should give himself up and be thankful he didn’t kill her. Because it could have been much worse.”

Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000