Family of Wishaw girl left for dead in hit and run launch "own investigation" into crash

Jessica with dad, Robert, and mum, Marylouise
-Credit: (Image: Ross Turpie Daily Record / SundayMail)


The family of a Lanarkshire schoolgirl who was left for dead following a hit-and-run are tracking Vauxhall Corsa cars in a bid to trace the driver.

Jessica Frew was left seriously injured after she was knocked to the ground by the driver of a silver Corsa as she crossed Cambusnethan Street in Wishaw at around 4.30pm on Friday, April 19. The schoolgirl was left lying unconscious in a pool of her own blood after the driver fled the scene.

The Record reports that the motorist overtook stationary vehicles and sped through a red light before hitting the 12-year-old as she crossed the road on her return home from the park. Her family say they have now launched their "own investigation" into the crash after being "abandoned" by police.

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Jessica's dad, Robert, has taken the matter into his own hands after claiming the family have been "left in the dark", he said: "It has been six months and that driver is still out there and it seems as though nothing has been done. As a dad, I can't just sit there knowing this.

"We've decided to start doing our own investigation to try and get this driver traced and convicted. We haven't heard anything from police about any developments for some time now and we are feeling as though we have been abandoned and left in the dark about what is going on in terms of their investigation.

Jessica Frew being taken to hospital
Jessica Frew being taken to hospital

"Six months on, this driver should have been found and arrested by now. Jessica was knocked down in broad daylight on a busy street."

The 51-year-old added: "That driver should have been brought to justice a long time ago."

Jessica was left with horrific injuries including a disfigured lip, smashed teeth, a severely bruised collar bone and cuts and bruises across her body. She has since attended multiple appointments at a dental hospital as all of her upper teeth have been left fractured.

Footage shows the wing mirror snapping from the Corsa involved in the hit-and-run
Footage shows the wing mirror snapping from the Corsa involved in the hit-and-run

CCTV footage obtained by the family shows the wing mirror of the car snapping just moments before it hit the child. Dad Robert believes that the mirror, which was found tossed at the scene, could be a vital piece of evidence.

He is using the broken mirror as a steer into his own probe.

Jessica was left badly injured in the collision
Jessica was left badly injured in the collision -Credit:Daily Record

He said: "I have been looking at silver Corsas coming and going out of the area and I am closely checking to see if they have been modified in any way which might show it once had a missing wing mirror. As well as this, I'm taking their reg plate and tracking which routes they take.

"Once I have gathered a decent log of cars that fit the description of the car that hit Jessica, I will then take this to the police."

All of Jessica's upper teeth have been left fractured
All of Jessica's upper teeth have been left fractured -Credit:Tony Nicoletti/Daily Record

He added: "As a family, we just want this driver to be caught. Without a care in the world, they could have left Jessica for dead. We shouldn't need to have to conduct our own investigation but the thought of that driver still being out there after all this time makes me sick to my stomach.

"They could end up killing somebody."

Constable Paul Taylor said: “We are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed this collision and is yet to speak to officers to please get in touch. In particular, we would ask people with private CCTV or dashcam footage of the surrounding area on the afternoon of Friday, 19 April, to check in case they have captured a silver Vauxhall Corsa."

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