A schoolgirl has made a miracle recovery after being mown down by a hit-and-run driver as she played on a scooter outside her home.
Michalina Eslinger, 6, is ‘lucky to be alive’ after the horrific crime by a disqualified driver was caught on CCTV camera as she was dragged under his car.
She broke her pelvis, both thigh bones, her right lower leg, her collar bone and suffered horrible facial burns in the hit-and-run.
Her family say she is lucky to be alive – and will return to school this week just eight weeks after the crash.
Michalina Eslinger (pictured) broke her pelvis, both thigh bones, her right lower leg, her collar bone and suffered horrible facial burns in the hit-and-run
The CCTV camera showed how she had fallen off her scooter while playing outside when Ashley Evans sped around the corner
The six-year-old can be seen with her scooter on the floor as Mr Evans car goes over the top of her
The scooter is left alone in the road and Michalina is trapped under the Vauxhall Astra
Michalina dragged her along the road by her legs. She was trapped under his wheels until passers by were able to lift the car off her
Disqualified driver Ashley Evans (pictured) was jailed for three years at Cardiff Crown Court after pleading guilty to causing serious injury while driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, driving while disqualified and failing to stop in the Vauxhall Astra
Her father Kristof – who saw banned driver Ashley Evans speed away from the scene – said: ‘She has been so brave. We are so lucky she is here with us.’
A judge said it was a ‘miracle that she was not killed’ – and described the driver as ‘cowardly’ for fleeing.
The CCTV camera showed how she had fallen off her scooter while playing outside when Ashley Evans sped around the corner.
Michalina dragged her along the road by her legs. She was trapped under his wheels until passers by were able to lift the car off her.
As well as a number of broken bones Michalina also suffered a number of facial burns
But callous Evans, 28, drove off, speeding away from the scene not knowing is she would be alive or dead.
Michalina suffered a broken pelvis and fractures to both thigh bones, her collarbone and right lower leg.
She needed surgery to fit plates in her legs and stayed in the University of Wales hospital for ten days.
Kristof, who has given up work to care for his daughter, says Michalina wakes up in the night crying and asks: ‘Why was that man so mean to me?’
Now Michalina, of Splott, Cardiff, is ready to return to school in her wheelchair.
Her father said: ‘It has been hard for Michalina to miss school because she really loves to go.
‘Her legs are still very weak she can stand but only for a short time.
‘In her thighs she has pins and screws and we are just waiting to see how well she recovers long term.’
Disqualified driver Ashley Evans had 37 previous offences on his criminal record including three for dangerous driving and six for driving while disqualified.
He was jailed for three years at Cardiff Crown Court after pleading guilty to causing serious injury while driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, driving while disqualified and failing to stop in the Vauxhall Astra.
Michalina’s father added: ‘Our anger with Ashley Evans is passing. We are only sorry that his evil decision has caused so much hurt to our family and his own.
‘I still can’t understand how this happened and I cry with relief when I think about what Michalina went through and how lucky we are she survived.’
Michalina needed surgery to fit plates in her legs and stayed in the University of Wales hospital for ten days
Michelina with her mother and father, Gabriela nad Krzysztof Eslinger. The six year old is soon returning to school just eight weeks after being hit by a car
Evans was also disqualified from driving for five years.
John Warren, prosecuting, said: ‘Evans drove into the street and drove straight over the girl as she lay prone on the ground.
Witnesses described Evans fleeing the scene in Splott, Cardiff, ‘driving fast’ and ‘as if he wanted to get away’.
Mr Warren said: ‘He was thinking more about himself than the little girl he had injured. He panicked because he was a disqualified driver and fled the scene.’
Jailing him, Judge David Wynn Morgan said: ‘You ran her over and dragged her a short distance beneath the car.
‘You drove the car away. Your behaviour was cowardly and inhuman.’