Girl in critical condition after being hit by car in Maroochydore

Heroic bystanders helped save a 12-year-old girl’s life after she was hit and pinned under the vehicle of a P-plater while she was riding an e-scooter on the footpath this morning.

Bystanders have been credited with helping to save a 12-year-old girl’s life after she was hit and pinned under the vehicle of a P-plater while she was riding an e-scooter on the footpath Wednesday morning.

Emergency services were called to the horror crash on Main Rd, Maroochydore following reports of a girl being hit by a car just after 8am.

More than a dozen police were on site and spotted taking photos of a Kia Rio and an e-scooter as part of establishing a crime scene.

Police confirmed the 12-year-old girl was riding the e-scooter on the footpath when she was struck by the car.

There appeared to be damage to the front of the Kia from hitting the girl and scooter.

Police said in a statement initial investigations indicated the girl was riding her e-scooter on the footpath when the Kia Rio pulled out of a driveway onto Main Rd and collided with the girl.

The car was also donning a green P plate. It’s believed the vehicle had a Victorian registration.

The incident happened just after 8am on Main Rd, Maroochydore. Photo: Madeline Grace

The driver of the car, a 21-year-old Maroochydore woman, is assisting police with inquiries.

An officer on the scene said this was a reminder of the importance of road safety and declared the crash “a tragedy”.

Main Rd, near the intersection of Hill Top Crescent, was taped off in both directions.

Police were not allowing drivers or pedestrians through unless they had proof of living in the vicinity.

A Queensland Ambulance spokeswoman said the girl, from Alexandra Headland, had been transported to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a critical condition with life threatening injuries.

QAS Acting Director of Clinical Operations, Tony Hucker, told media the girl was pinned underneath the car.

He said the bystanders “rallied quickly” to help save her life.

“She was critically injured in this crash and bystanders, fire services, and ambulances responded very quickly,” Mr Hucker said.

A scooter is at the rear of the car on the ground. Photo: Madeline Grace

“They managed to quickly extricate her from underneath the car.

“But she was a very, very sick young girl. She was critically injured.

“Our crews were able to commence resuscitation on the scene and then quickly get her off to Sunshine Coast University Hospital.”

Although still fighting for her life in hospital, Mr Hucker said she remained in a much better condition than earlier this morning.

He confirmed the girl was wearing her helmet while riding the e-scooter on the footpath.

“She had multiple injuries … the extent of the injuries will become apparent after more formal examination,” he said.

QAS Acting Director of Clinical Operations Tony Hucker.

“She had some crushing injuries to her chest that needed treatment at the scene.

“We always assume there is a head injury with large impact incidents like this but we won’t know until she’s had proper imaging in hospital.”

Mr Hucker said QAS had seen an “increase in e-scooter related trauma”.

“Hopefully this young lady will survive but some people haven’t. We’ve got to remember if you come off an e-scooter and hit your head on the roadway or concrete that can be a devastating injury and end in a fatality.”

Mr Hucker said the young driver would have been greatly affected too.

“She was okay but the driver was a young person too and that’s a devastating experience for someone driving a car,” he said.

“The emotional impact and trauma from that experience can be awful.

“We always make sure to look after those people as well and she got great care at the scene.”

Anyone with information, including dashcam footage, is urged to contact police.

Investigations are ongoing.

Originally published as Girl in critical condition after being hit by car in Maroochydore