Paramedic’s plea as number of pedestrians struck by vehicles in 2019 reaches 1000

A veteran paramedic is warning pedestrians to take more care on NSW roads, with almost 1000 people struck by vehicles already this year. The caution comes weeks after little boy Steven Tamba — struck by a car outside his home last year — died eight months later­.

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A veteran paramedic is warning pedestrians to take more care on NSW roads, with almost 1000 people struck by vehicles already this year.

The caution comes as it emerged a little boy run over outside his home last year has died eight months after the incident­.

Steven Tamba, who died on May 24, wandered onto Kibo Rd at Regents Park when he was struck by a Toyota sedan and rushed to hospital with critical injuries last September.

New figures provided to The Daily Telegraph by NSW Ambulance show almost 1000 pedestrians have been hit by vehicles on NSW roads in 2019. This is similar to the amount of people hit in the same time period last year, and authorities worry their safety message is not getting through.

“I feel over the last 12 months, certainly, the amount of pedestrians I have gone to has increased and they are significant jobs — it’s life changing (for the victims and families involved),” said NSW Ambulance Inspector Carolyn Parish, a senior paramedic of 27 years’ service­. “One person being struck is one too many these days. So far this year, there has been close to 1000 pedestrians hit and that’s significant­.”

Steven Tamba died on May 24, eight months after he was struck by a car. Picture: Facebook

Steven was struck after he wandered on to the road outside his home. Picture: Facebook

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And Ms Parish urged people not to rush to judgment when children are hit by cars.

“You can just turn your head for a second and that might be all it takes for that child to get distracted and do something,” she said.

“I think we have to all be extremely mindful of when we’re discussing children that the blame isn’t always placed on the parents or the family. These things happen, they are an accident that just happens unfortunately.”

Steven’s runners are seen on the road after the accident.

Ms Parish said the impacts of a child being hit last a lifetime.

“It absolutely just destroys that whole family and they are left feeling extremely guilty,” she said. “It’s something that just happens.”

It is believed the driver of the Toyota which struck Steven was not at fault. Police this week said no arrests or charges had been laid over the incident.

Steven’s father, Michael Tamba, told the Telegraph: “We need to (raise awareness) when there are no crossings or speed humps around public parks — if there was my son would have been home now. He was the loveliest kid you ever met in your life, always had a smile on his face.”

Ms Parish said “nothing is as confronting as treating a child”.