Mother’s pain following death of three-year-old daughter in Endeavour Hills crash
The devastated mother of a three-year-old girl who was struck and killed by a car in Endeavour Hills has described her pain as a “bomb” in her heart that is “ready to explode”.
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A devastated mother whose three-year-old daughter was struck and killed by a car in Endeavour Hills has described her pain as a “bomb” in her heart that is “ready to explode”.
Little Mila was walking across a pedestrian crossing on Heatherton Rd with elderly family members when she was allegedly hit by a car about 8.30am on Thursday.
She was rushed to the Royal Children’s Hospital in a critical condition where she later died.
Speaking exclusively to the Herald Sun on Tuesday, Mila’s mother, Wenna Lin, said she felt her daughter’s presence wherever she went.
“I miss her every second. I feel her everywhere, like there are millions of Mila’s surrounding me, no matter what I’m doing,” she said.
“I love her more than anything, beyond words.
“I wish I could be with her then my pain would disappear but it feels like something is holding me back.
“I want her to know that it’s not because I don’t love her, it’s because I love her so, so much.”
Ms Lin said there was a “bomb” in her heart that was “ready to explode at any moment”.
It comes as horrifying footage was shared with the Herald Sun that captured the sound of the car allegedly striking Mila and the ensuing screams of family members.
The wider Endeavour Hills community rallied around her family the day after the tragedy, flocking to the scene to offer floral tributes.
Mila’s family friend Zoe Angourias-Verlin said the three-year-old loved the colour pink.
“She was bubbly, sweet, smiley, happy. She loved everything,” she said.
“She’s going to be so missed, my heart is broken, it’s shattered.”
Following the tragedy, a petition was launched calling for the construction of a pedestrian bridge over Heatherton Rd to allow children to cross more safely.
More than 1800 people had signed the petition since Friday.
“Such a preventive measure is not an option, but a dire need,” organiser Lee Du said.
“An overhead bridge would undoubtedly increase pedestrian safety by avoiding the crux of the problem: the direct interaction of pedestrians and vehicles.”
Residents along Heatherton Rd said the area was extremely dangerous and notorious for car crashes.
On Friday, Endeavour Hills man Kamal Ghali, 24, was charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury.
The registered osteopath was bailed to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Mr Ghali’s family declined to comment but expressed their grief and shock for all involved.
The investigation remains ongoing with police yet to confirm who had right of way at the pedestrian crossing.
Specialist tech control workers were seen poring over the traffic lights at the scene the day after Mila was hit.
Detective Sergeant Roz Wilson said the collision had been a difficult scene to deal with, adding any incident involving children was “devastating.”
“(There will be a) ripple effect for attending members, who all have family, the first responders and those poor witnesses that may have seen what happened, my heart goes out to them.”