Girl, 7, dies in hospital after horror Yallourn North crash
A YOUNG girl killed in a horror head-on crash in the Latrobe Valley which injured her mum and younger siblings has been remembered as “bubbly” and “nurturing.”
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A YOUNG girl killed in a horror head-on crash in the Latrobe Valley which injured her mum and younger siblings has been remembered as a “beautiful soul.”
Amber Rose Allen, 7, died in hospital after the car her mum was driving allegedly veered across the lane she was travelling in and collided with an oncoming vehicle at Yallourn North during school pickup.
Her brother Elijah, 5, and sister Khaleesi, 3, were also on board.
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Both are undergoing brain scans, after it was discovered Elijah suffered spinal fractures and a bleed to the brain following the horror crash.
Their mother, Kylie Allely, 29, remains at The Alfred hospital in a critical but stable condition.
Amber has been remembered by family as “bubbly” and “nurturing.”
Her grandmother Liz Allen said she was the “mother hen” to her younger siblings, whom she deeply cared for.
“If I ever bought her a treat she would insist we get one for Elijah and Khaleesi,” she said.
“She loved everyone. She was like that with other kids too... she didn’t like when they got upset and would give them a cuddle to make them feel better.”
Ms Allen said their family are devastated by the loss of their beautiful “shining light.”
Amber was a grade one student at Tyers Primary School, located a few minutes from the crash site.
DEVELOPING: 7 people have been injured in a multi-vehicle collision on Brown Coalmine Road in Yallourn North. #9News pic.twitter.com/3gxFjLA0jP
— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) October 15, 2018
She loved reading and cooking and was “obsessed” with dinosaurs, giraffes and flamingos.
“She was so bubbly and chatty,” said Ms Allen.
The father of the three kids, Gareth Allen, is with the surviving pair as they undergo further tests in hospital.
“He is trying to focus on the other two. He is going through bouts where he realises what’s happened but then refocuses on the other two,” said Ms Allen.
“We are unsure if there will be ongoing issues with Elijah.”
Tyers Primary School principal Peter Harrison said the school community was “coming to terms” with the tragic news.
“Counselling has been made available for the family, as well as for students and staff at the school,” he said.
“The school is doing everything we can to support the family, friends and the community.”
Detective Sergeant Paul Lineham said the collision occurred when the young family’s vehicle veered into the westbound lanes of the rural road.
What caused the car to veer remains unknown.
The other vehicle was carrying a mum, 49, her son, 15, and his friend, 15.
The mum is undergoing surgery today.
Both of the 15-year-old boys were taken to Latrobe Regional Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
One of the boys was later taken to Royal Children’s Hospital, where he remains.
Witnesses described “chaotic scenes” as heroic drivers helped pull the children from the wreckage.
Amy Hunt, who arrived moments after the collision, said: “It was horrific, there was petrol and glass and crying kids everywhere.
“We took one of the children out of the car and began CPR on her straight away.
“Two other children were crying in the back seat so we took them out but the mother was trapped in the front seat.
“The speed limit in that area is 100kmh and the two cars had smashed completely head-on.”
Ms Hunt, who has a young daughter, travelled to hospital with two of the injured children.
“I know if that was me trapped in the car I would want someone to take my daughter to hospital,” she said.
“You just have to react when you hear children crying and hope it is going to be OK.”
A spokesman for Yallourn North Urban Fire Brigade said the collision was one of the worst he had seen.
7 people injured in head-on crash at Yallourn, inc primary school girl who's critical. @EmilyCAngwin live from RCH with latest in @7NewsMelbourne pic.twitter.com/UI8Z4desiT
— Lynne Scrivens (@lynnescrivens) October 15, 2018
JUST IN: Emergency services are on the scene of a serious crash in #Yallourn North.
— WIN News Gippsland (@WINNews_Gip) October 15, 2018
An emergency helicopter has just arrived on the scene.
More details as they come, the full report at 6pm.#WINNews6pm pic.twitter.com/MiTSfwiIYM
“It is as bad as it gets, and I’ve seen a few,” the spokesman said.
“We secured the scene and assisted patients — there were a number of people trapped.”
A fundraiser has been established to support Amber’s family.
https://www.gofundme.com/69myoxc
Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage to come forward.