A schoolgirl has been left unable to walk after being hit by a motorbike while walking in a West Lothian town. Emily McGregor, 10, will spend the rest of her school holidays in hospital after a motorbike mounted the pavement and left her badly injured late on Saturday August 6.
Two thugs on a bike are alleged to have knocked Emily down between Logan Way and Morrison Way in Livingston at around 7.40pm. Mum-of-two Laura, 33, who is heavily pregnant rushed to the scene with her third child after getting the distressing call that her daughter had been injured by a motorbike while she played with friends.
Tragically the youngster is struggling to walk due to her heavy cast because of the severity of the break. The family, who are from the Knightridge area of the town, say they have been left shaken and are now scared to let the kids go out to play because of the prevalence of speeding bikes.
The incident comes just weeks after Emily was named sports ambassador. She says she is gutted that she doesn't know when she will be able to play sports again
"It was on Saturday, Emily and her friend had just met up to go out and play but five minutes her friend gave me a phone to say Emily has been hit by a motorbike, my son called the ambulance as we rushed over to the street", Laura told Edinburgh Live.
"An ambulance came and then a second one had to as well and rushed her to the Sick Kids. She has had to have her leg manipulated, and put in a cast twice because the first time it was put on too tightly. She is really struggling with the crutches because she has a really heavy cast on as there were so many breaks in her leg."
Emily went over the shocking incident with her mum who explained what happened, she said: "There was two boys on motorbikes, one had hit her and she went flying across the fence. Then they just drove off while her friend phoned me and her brother called an ambulance.
"Emily has handled it pretty well but I'm more worried about the mental impact and scarring in the future. She was on a public path just out playing with a friend it never should have happened. Groups of them (motorcycle drivers) are constantly riding around here on bikes."
Despite putting on a brave face the youngster who loves outdoor activities has just become sports ambassador for her whole school but is now heartbroken as she doesn’t know when she will be able to take part again.
Laura explained: "She has also just became sports ambassador for p7 and the whole school, she loves all sports and now is unable to take part in any for the foreseeable future. A doctor has just told us they won't know the extent of damage for at least six weeks.
"She's so proud of becoming sports ambassador and got her school hoodies with sports ambassador on the back now she's worried about that and says she doesn't want to walk on a path again. Nobody under the age of 16 is allowed to visit her in hospital so she can't see any of her friends and it is the last of the summer holidays."
"It's probably worse than the jail, she has her iPad and a television but that's it and I'm six months pregnant spending nights on a wee side bed." The shocking incident has touched everyone in the close knit community who are horrified about what happened.
"It's affected everyone in the community they are sick of it happening and the fact it's taken for a child to be hit for something to be done is disgusting, they just get away so quickly and fast" she said. Adding: "I just think its disgraceful, accidents happen but the fact they left her and didn't know if she was okay and they just left that's disgusting.
"When she does come home its just the three of us so its going to be really stressful and hard to adapt but the hospital staff have been great she is on pain relief and they just want to make sure she is going to recover properly." Police now say that extensive enquiries are ongoing to trace those responsible and anyone with information should come forward.
Inspector Kylie Barnard, of Livingston Police Station, said: “The victim and her family have been left shaken by this incident and we are appealing for information to trace those responsible. We are also keen to hear from anyone with private CCTV or dashcam footage.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident should contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number 3223 of 6 August. Alternatively, a call can be made anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
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