The family of a girl who was hit by a car at a school bus stop is calling for the Department of Transport and Main Roads to provide safe crossings on the busy road.
Year 10 student Ava Tattam was returning home after school last Thursday when she was struck by the car in front of Sunshine Castle on the David Low Way at Bli Bli.
Ava was attempting to cross the road when a car in the left lane travelling north stopped to let her across, but a second car in the right lane was unaware of her presence and failed to stop.
Ava’s sister Abbey, who is in Year 7 and had already crossed the road, witnessed the accident.
“She (Ava) didn’t see the other car coming and it was coming about at the speed limit, which was 60km/h,” Abbey said.
“The car hit her and she went two metres up in the air, came back down and hit the bonnet, rolled on the ground.
“She tried to get up like three times and she couldn’t get up, but then she got up and walked away and she was saying she was okay.”
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A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesperson said Ava had been taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital. She suffered grazes to her arm but escaped without serious injuries.
A police spokesperson confirmed that Nambour Police were investigating the incident that occurred about 3pm on Thursday.
“A female pedestrian, a 15-year-old Sunshine Coast girl, was hit by a vehicle driven by a 73-year-old Sunshine Coast woman. Police investigations are continuing,” the spokesperson said.
Ava’s mum Natalie posted on social media about the incident later that day.
“Thank you to everyone who helped Ava this afternoon when she was hit by a car near the castle after getting off the school bus. She’s all well and very, very lucky to have escaped serious injuries,” she wrote.
“With advice from the police, I am going to write to the local member and the Department of Main Roads to try and get a safe place to cross for the community. This was very frightening for all involved.
“Please note, the driver was not at fault. A car stopped to let Ava cross and when she crossed the road, she didn’t see the car coming through in the right lane and they didn’t see her.”
Mrs Tattam is also considering creating a petition to help create more safe crossings on the road.
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“We’ve had a few people that have reached out and sort of said they’ve been trying to do the same thing (create a petition), and we’re just waiting for something terrible to happen, because it’s been a problem for a long time,” Mrs Tattam said.
“It’s just getting worse with the amount of traffic coming in and out.”
A Transport and Main Roads spokesperson said the department was unaware of any previous issues on the stretch of road.
“We are sorry to hear about the traffic incident involving a teenage pedestrian on David Low Way at Bli Bli,” they said.
“A review of injury-related incidents for the last five years of available crash data does not show any other pedestrian-related crashes on David Low Way south of the roundabout (fronting the castle).”
Ava said getting home from the bus stop on the eastern side of David Low Way was tricky.
“It’s a bit difficult to cross over because when you’re crossing from that side, you can’t see around the corner. You have to like wait until you definitely know it’s clear, but I’ve never been hit by a car before,” she said.
There are no signalised or zebra crossings on David Low Way south of the Bli Bli Road roundabout, or north on Bli Bli Road until the School Road-Lefoes Road intersection.
Mrs Tattam and Ava’s father Doug said the problem was affecting all residents.
“It’s not just about kids,” Mrs Tattam said. “If you live on that (western) side of the road or anywhere over there and you want to walk to the shops, it’s hard to cross the road. Doug’s nearly been wiped out and he’s a grown-up.”
Mr Tattam added: “I was crossing the road this (northern) side of the (Bli Bli Road) roundabout and a car came flying around the roundabout like 100 miles an hour. I only just got across there.
“For me, my concern is they’re opening up the tavern just here, so you’re going to have a lot of patrons coming and going. Obviously people are going to be walking, not driving – they’re not going to drink-drive. You’re going to have a lot more foot traffic.”
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The Transport and Main Roads spokesperson said the department was looking at ways to improve road safety in the area.
“Planning is being undertaken on several roads from Maroochydore to Peregian Springs, including David Low Way at Bli Bli,” they said.
“Pedestrian facilities will be considered as part of the planning study, which also includes long-term options to improve network capacity, safety and active transport facilities over the next 20 years.
“Late last year, we sought feedback from the community about their priorities and how they currently use this road network.
“Feedback will be used to further inform planning activities and guide possible future planning investment.”
The Tattams suggest an overpass could be built over David Low Way from Wharf Road near the castle, or the old cane rail track could be used for an underpass.
“If you put in lights at that roundabout, that’s just going to create havoc – there’s people already complaining about the set of lights here at the shops,” Mrs Tattam said.
Mr Tattam added: “If we don’t get it fixed, there’s a big possibility that there could be a family that could be having a totally different conversation.”
To have your say on TMR’s planning study for the area click here.
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