The family of an 11-year-old girl who was killed when she was walking home during her first term of secondary school have described the horror of the tragic day.
Emica Loralia Jackson-Miller was only seconds from her family home in Torbay, Devon when the crash happened.
Her mum Holly-Jade Miller-Wood described the entire ordeal as a ‘bad dream’ and after the crash on November 25 last year, Emica spent three weeks in a coma and died on December 11, Devon Live reported .
Holly-Jade said: "On the day it happened I was asleep and Emica was walking home from Torquay Academy. I think because of that everything felt like a bad dream - it still does.
"My husband had gone to Sherwell Valley to pick my youngest up and said there had been an accident on the corner.
“We ran around and the police were pushing people back and wouldn't let you close, but I saw her coat and bag and realised it was her. I saw her being pulled out from underneath the car.
"We didn't realise how serious it was - she looked perfect, if you looked at her you couldn't see anything wrong. I thought 'Oh gosh she's unconscious' but you never expect it to be that bad.
"It wasn't until we got to Bristol and they did nine hours of brain surgery that we began to realise."
Emica is remembered by her family and friends for her sense of humour and the way she made friends with everyone.
Her mum added: "She's very funny and she's got an amazing sense of humour. She loves to be the centre of attention and makes everyone laugh.
“She had so many friends and was very much loved by everyone.
"After her passing we've had so many messages and it's only now that I realise how much of an impact she had on everyone she met.”
Tributes have been paid, with flowers, toys and ribbons laid at the sight of the crash.
Holly-Jade added: "I'm not sure who's putting the toys and ribbons on the steps - there have been so many beautiful flowers and messages and cards put out by people from the local area.
“Everyone has been so respectful. I want it to stay as a memorial. It's important for people to understand what happened and maybe make people think.”
Her mother said they are awaiting the full coroner's enquiry into the accident but said police have already spoken to witnesses: "Emica was coming down the stairs - there were parked cars and a van. She wasn't running and witnesses say the driver wasn't speeding. The crash happened on the speed bump - and we have been told that it contributed because she was dragged under the car as it went over the bumps.
"Also when Emica was standing at the top of the stairs she wouldn't have been able to see cars driving up because of the cars and the van at the bottom. She had to poke her head out into the road to see what was coming.
"There needs to be some sort of safe crossing down in the middle of Queensway.”
Now, Emica’s family are trying to raise awareness of the dangers along Queensway Road, where the crash happened.
The long road is home to a number of primary and secondary schools and the family want something to change so its safer for the hundreds of other students who cross it everyday.
Holly-Jade said: "I have had a meeting with Kevin Foster and Torbay Council and they say they are going to look at the whole road. That's in the process of being looked at.
"It's very important that they also do something to sort out the crossing outside Queensway primary school as well.
"There needs to be some sort of safe crossing down in the middle of Queensway.
"Every day there's loads of children in this area - not just from Queensway and Torquay Academy, but Sherwell Valley and Cockington School and the boys and girls' grammar schools as well. We want something to be done for all the other children as well."
