Family pay tribute to ‘adorable’ girl killed in horror Ringwood crash
A SCHOOLGIRL whose life was tragically cut short after she was hit by a truck on her way to school has been remembered by her principal for making “really strong connections”.
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A SCHOOLGIRL whose life was tragically cut short after she was hit by a truck on her way to school has been remembered by her principal as “a beautiful young student”.
Aivy Nguyen, 14, was just minutes from her Ringwood home when her journey, to catch a train to school on the other side of town, ended at a notorious ‘black spot’ intersection.
Mount Alexander College principal Wayne Haworth said despite Aivy being at the school a short time, only arriving midway through last year, “her personality and her friendliness meant she made really strong connections”.
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“She made an impact at the school, she was a great student and she had a passion for learning,” he said.
Mr Haworth said the school community had been deeply saddened by the tragic loss “of a beautiful young student”.
“This news has had a profound impact on many students and staff, and I know that our community will band together and support each other throughout this time,” he said.
“We will be doing everything we can to support those who need it during this difficult time.
“Teachers, wellbeing staff and counsellors are available at the school to talk with students that need additional support.”
Mr Haworth said the school community’s thoughts were with Aivy’s family and friends.
Her heartbroken family paid tribute to their “adorable” girl, in tearful scenes at the notoriously dangerous intersection where she was struck down.
Aivy’s mother, Ha Huynh, sobbed uncontrollably last night as she tightly held her daughter, Aileen, 10.
“Aivy would always look after her little sister,” cousin, Kimberly Nguyen, said.
“They were joined at the hip.
“She was smart and innocent.
“She was adorable.”
A driver was questioned over why he did not stop when his truck clipped Aivy while turning near Dampier Grove on to the Maroondah Highway.
The crash site had long been considered a black spot, with authorities warned of the risk to pedestrians crossing the road towards Heatherdale train station.
The Herald Sun has seen letters from VicRoads showing the authority had reviewed the pedestrian crossing as recently as last year.
And a former Maroondah City Council traffic engineer came forward to confirm the intersection of Dampier Grove and Maroondah Highway had long been considered a safety problem for pedestrians, made worse by the relocation of the local train station.
“This intersection has always been a problem, largely due to the need to provide access to the service road, which has compromised pedestrian access and safety,” the engineer said.
Aivy’s family members last night covered the intersection in flowers and knelt in prayer.
Grandparents, uncles, aunties and cousins gathered to leave flowers, candles and biscuits for their precious Aivy.
Her father, Hung, was too emotional to leave the family home. Kimberly Nguyen said the parents were not coping with the devastating loss.
“They are both feeling terrible,” she said.
A backpack left in the middle of the busy junction was a reminder of the tragedy as police probed the crash scene amid investigations into whether the truckie knew his truck had clipped the girl.
Aivy was a year 9 student at Mt Alexander College in the northwestern suburb of Flemington, a school which attracts students from outer suburbs because of its unique curriculum.
Staff said the school community was “devastated”.
“The kids couldn’t believe it, their reaction was just awful — people were crying and shaking,” one said.
Friend Fatima Seifeddine said: “Rip Aivy. You will be missed.”
The truck driver, a 39-year-old NSW man, handed himself in to police after news broke detectives were hunting for a hit-run driver.
According to figures collected by AAMI, motorists travelling on the Maroondah Highway at Ringwood made 187 insurance claims last year, the seventh-highest figure for the state.
Luis Datoi said he was wife’s car was “T-boned” at the same intersection just last week.
“It’s very terrifying,” he said.
Mr Datoi has started a candle tribute at the intersection and has vowed to keep it burning until VicRoads takes action.
Louis Datoy, who lives 300m from the intersection in the service road off Whitehorse Rd, said he had “hundreds of candles” prepared for the tribute.
He said he was forming a residents’ action group demanding changes to the design of the intersection.
Other residents told of daily near-misses involving vehicles failing to give way at a pedestrian light they say lacks clear signage and needs morning crossing supervisors for schoolchildren.
Ringwood dad Krystian Seibert wrote to the government after his wife — who was pregnant at the time — was nearly hit by a turning truck that failed to give way.
“All I asked for were some flashing lights, so cars know they have to stop and don’t just rush through,” Mr Seibert said.
A senior engineer from VicRoads responded in March last year: “VicRoads has reviewed the signal operations and noted the increase of pedestrian demand on the east approach. VicRoads therefore forwarded this issue to the Level Crossing Removal Project Team for their consideration.
“The project team advised that Heatherdale Station carpark is currently under construction, which may push more commuter vehicles parked on the north side of Maroondah Hwy…. (the team) will consider your suggestion.”
Aivy was walking up Dampier Grove towards the train station about 7am when she was hit by the turning truck.
The Herald Sun understands the driver of another truck — seen in TV news footage at the accident scene — stopped at the intersection to help the girl.
Witnesses rushed to help and paramedics worked desperately but she lost her fight for life soon after arriving at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
The driver was delivering Makita power tools to an expo at Holmesglen TAFE in Chadstone, where police seized the vehicle for forensic testings.
Damage to the passenger side of the truck would form a crucial part of the Major Collision Unit investigation.
In a statement, Makita managing director Shigeru Okada said the driver and the company were co-operating with authorities.
“The company is deeply saddened by today’s accident and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the young girl who lost her life,” he said.
LOCALS FEARED DANGEROUS INTERSECTION
LOCAL workers arriving to businesses near the scene yesterday morning said they had long feared a tragedy could occur at the busy and “confusing” junction which offers access to the nearby Heatherdale station, after witnessing a number of near misses.
The intersection has four pedestrian crossings, service roads, entrances to local shops and residential streets, as well as being a main thoroughfare for drivers turning onto EastLink.
The pedestrian crossing from Dampier Rd across the highway is a popular route for school kids and workers heading to Heatherdale train station for the morning commute.
Locals say the notoriously dangerous intersection is like the “Bermuda triangle”.
“Rules just don’t apply,” said Mark Williams who works in a nearby office.
“At least twice a week there’s an accident and there’s even more near misses,” he said.
Mr Williams said it was only a matter of time before a pedestrian was hit as many motorists ignore the green walking signals.
Alhad Harne’s house sits on the corner of the intersection where the accident occurred and said he is get scared every time his daughter uses the crossing.
“Every time I have to hold my hand out (in front of the cars) and only then do they stop,” he said.
Mr Harne said many children use the crossing to get to the train station and urged council to introduce crossing supervisors.
“This should never happen to anyone,” he said.
“People are doing U-bolts, people are trying to get on to EastLink, there’s people running to get the train,” Danielle Williams said.
“People don’t know what to do ... something needs to be done about it.”
Georgina Daubeny said she and other staff from nearby businesses had been concerned about the number of drivers they saw rushing through the pedestrian crossing.
“It’s a shocking intersection,” Ms Daubeny said.
“I’ve seen dozens of near-misses.
“It’s heartbreaking this has happened.”
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