Bli Bli scooter crash: Tragic update after little boy Dawlon Smith-Saunders was struck by an allegedly drunk driver in Queensland while riding his scooter with a friend
Bli Bli scooter accident: Tragic update after little boy Dawlon Smith-Saunders was hit by an allegedly drunk driver in Queensland while riding his scooter with a friend
- Dawlon Smith-Saunders, 12, was hit by a ute in Bli Bli, QLD
- He suffered serious injuries and died in hospital on Monday
- The ute driver, 27, is expected to face additional charges
- READ MORE: Young mother killed in fiery crash in WA
A little boy has been hospitalized for weeks after being hit by a Mazda car allegedly driven by a drunk driver.
Dawlon Smith-Saunders, 12, was riding his scooter along David Low Way in Bli Bli, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, on September 3 when he was struck by the vehicle.
The young boy suffered serious injuries and was flown to Queensland Children’s Hospital.
He tragically died on Sunday afternoon.
The 27-year-old driver of the ute was charged with drink-driving at low speed. He is expected to face additional charges.
Dawlon Smith-Saunders (pictured), 12, tragically died in hospital weeks after being struck in an accident at Bli Bli on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast
It is understood Dawlon was riding his scooter with a friend at the time of the incident.
Witnesses stayed with the boy until paramedics arrived on scene.
Dawlon suffered multiple serious injuries, including a skull fracture, brain injuries, a broken collarbone, a broken arm and a ruptured bladder, according to his family.
In an emotional Facebook post, his older sister Letitia Michelle Smith said Dawlon died “surrounded by family” at Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.
“His progress scan in the first week showed he had only a small amount of damage to his outer brain, while Thursday’s showed significant change,” she wrote.
“On Friday, Mom had to make the difficult decision to stop his life support. Dawlon being Dawlon, he had fought for two days.”
Letiti said her family was completely devastated by the loss.
“Seeing your brother die in front of your eyes, I never thought that would happen,” she said 7News.
‘We all thought he was on the road to recovery, with all the positive signs he was showing.
“We are all in pain, but we are at peace knowing that Dawlon is no longer in pain and suffering.”
The 27-year-old driver of the ute was charged with drink-driving at low speed. He is expected to face additional charges
Dawlon (pictured) suffered a skull fracture, brain injuries, a broken collarbone, a broken arm and a burst bladder after being hit, according to his family
Dawlon’s sister has set up a GoFundMe to raise emergency funds for Dawlon while he fights for his life in the hospital.
The campaign has raised more than $18,000 in the past two weeks.
A second GoFundMe page has been created to help the family with funeral expenses and attorney fees.
The ute driver is said to have reported a blood alcohol level of 0.069 before being caught with a drink driving ticket.
He will appear before the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on October 30.
More charges are expected to follow in that time.