The family of a 16-year-old boy who was struck by a car while riding an e-scooter in western Sydney is urging the driver to come forward after the driver fled the scene.
Incident details
The teenager, identified as Jamie*, was riding the e-scooter with a friend on the back when a white hatchback hit him at the intersection of Mount Auburn Rd and Oxford St in Berala about 5.20pm on July 8. CCTV footage shows the car rolling through a stop sign before slamming into the scooter, sending Jamie into the air. His friend managed to jump off and avoid being hit. The driver then left while Jamie lay on the ground.
Injuries and family response
Jamie's family rushed from their nearby home after his friend alerted them. His mother, Sam*, described the scene as "very, very, very scary." She said Jamie had brain injuries, a fractured skull, blood all over his body, bruises, and complained of chest and head pain. In a panic, the family drove him to hospital themselves instead of calling triple zero, a decision Sam said she regrets.
More than two weeks later, Jamie remains in severe pain. He cannot turn his head due to neck damage, and his concussion makes him sensitive to sounds as small as someone typing on a phone. He suffers from blurred vision and is unable to sleep through the night, going in and out of hospital for tests. "He's not coping mentally, he's not coping physically," Sam said.
Police investigation
Because the family did not call triple zero, they had to contact police the next morning to launch an investigation. They have been door-knocking for information and obtained CCTV footage, which they passed to police. However, Sam said they have heard "nothing" from the investigating constable, despite multiple emails and visits to the police station. NSW Police told 7NEWS.com.au it could not comment further as the investigation is ongoing.
The family has released the footage and is calling on the driver or anyone with information to come forward. "Do the right thing," Sam said.
* Names withheld for privacy.
