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 Princes Hwy crash: teen who lost legs is a fighter 

Princes Hwy crash: teen who lost legs is a fighter

05 Feb, 2010 01:48 AM
The shocked family of a 15-year-old girl who had both legs amputated after a fatal car crash last weekend says the teen is strong enough to pull through the ordeal.

Kirsten Koskela, of Warilla, said her family had rallied to support her cousin Tegan Lloyd since the accident near Eden that claimed the life of Kylie Poyner, 17.

Kylie was driving a Hyundai Excel on the Princes Hwy at Little Bellbird Hill when the car left the road and hit a tree about 3.40am last Sunday.

  • Vicious attacks posted on dead driver's Facebook page

    Tegan, from Bemboka, Ben Halfpenny, 13, and Michael Clark, 14, both of Merimbula, were severely injured.

    All three are in a stable condition in Canberra Hospital.

    While declining to comment on Tegan's horrific injuries, Ms Koskela said she faced a daunting road to recovery.

    "It won't be easy but she's a strong girl and she's got a strong family there to support her through this, and through the rest of her life," Ms Koskela said.

    "We'll all be there for her, no matter what."

    Ms Koskela said Tegan was breathing unassisted and was surrounded by her parents and siblings.

    She last saw Tegan in December and described her as a "beautiful, outgoing young girl".

    "At 15 she had such a bright future ahead; it's so sad it's come to this," Ms Koskela said.

    "It's pretty devastating that someone so young is going through what she is right now.

    "Something like this could happen to anyone - they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

    Ms Koskela said the grief-stricken families of those involved in the accident were disappointed at insensitive remarks posted on a Facebook page set up in memory of Kylie Poyner.

    The page was shut down suddenly this week after it was overrun with comments criticising Kylie's driving and blaming the parents of the teens for allowing them out so late at night.

    "(The page) was for friends and family to wish them well and leave messages of love and support, and you have people sabotaging it," Ms Koskela said.

    "Right now the families of Tegan, Ben, Michael and Kylie need the support of communities near and far, and the last thing they want to hear is criticism about what caused the accident."

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    comments


    Date: Newest first | Oldest first
    I really feel for the families no one needs this, But i have to ask what were 13 and fourteen year olds doing out at 3 in the morning.
    Posted by Home- girl, 5/02/2010 6:48:48 AM, on Illawarra Mercury
    Strong will to carry on after severe injury is needed to put life back together, but unfortunately it will be on a different track and one can think what could have been. If only others could take notice and not be next in line to receive horrific injuries before having strong will to recover.
    Posted by Barry, 5/02/2010 11:30:50 AM, on Illawarra Mercury
    I feel for all the families and these poor young kids, devastation.
    Posted by kathncrew, 5/02/2010 11:55:34 AM, on Illawarra Mercury
    All the best to Tegan and the two other boys in the accident on their road to recovery.
    Posted by Zip, 5/02/2010 12:55:07 PM, on Illawarra Mercury
    The shattered lives and dreams of young and their families by a second decision.... Very, very sad that their whole lives and futures will be affected....
    Posted by RS, 5/02/2010 1:15:29 PM, on Illawarra Mercury
    The remarks posted on the Facebook page were inappropriate for that forum, but I would not expect that my criticism of Ms Koskela’s comments could be seen as such since newspapers have traditionally hosted a diversity of conflicting and non-inflammatory debate from which greater situational awareness may be synthesised. It is wrong to state that “Something like this could happen to anyone – they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time” as Ms Koskela does because this implies that fate was the predominant factor that produced these tragic outcomes. It is likely that something like this would not happen to anyone who did not partake in the risky behaviour shown by all of those in the car. Probationary licence conditions prohibit putting so many young people in a car with a young driver at that time of day precisely because of the statistical risk of just such an incident. As tragic as it was, this was no accident but an improbable event with severe outcomes. Sort of like buying a lottery ticket, there is a small chance of a really big outcome. Ms Koskela is wrong: this is not an example of cruel fate, but an example of playing the lottery and losing the lot.
    Posted by Dave, 5/02/2010 5:25:07 PM, on Illawarra Mercury
    I`m so glad to hear that this poor young women and her friends are doing ok, i was first to post about the crash, this hurts me quite alot, as im a parent of a 12 yr old child myself, i have to say i wish all the familys well and to be honest wish i could take all your pain away. But i did not not blame the driver for this terrible accident, just that driver training is no way near good enough, there needs to be something state wide to help save our kidds and to be taught how to drive correctly, my farther served 31 yrs in the police force in the UK, and wouldnt teach me, i had to pay myself to go through a driving school, because he thought he would pass on bad driving habbits to me, and after nearly 30 i have not had any major probs. Plz the Goverment, stop all this self taught crap, where mistake after mistake is passed on to the young drivers.
    Posted by ENOUGH, 5/02/2010 9:55:11 PM, on Illawarra Mercury
    The post by Dave i agree with to some extent, but what people like Dave must come to terms with and accept is that it wasn't the 15yo girl's or the 13 and 14 yo boy's who were in control of the vehicle that crashed into the tree. I think the point Ms Koskela was getting at there, was that by being in that car..they just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. What Dave and other members of the criticising community seem to lack is the compassion and support for the families involved in this tragic circumstance. The families are trying to get the public to offer their support instead of verbally abusing the victims for what they have done wrong. So i'm sorry Dave, but you obviously mis-read the article stating that Ms Koskela was trying to stop people like you throwing accusations and negative remarks towards the young lives in context here, and to look outside the box and offer words of support, and not a mouthful of abuse. Each to their own opinion, but before you express it..why don't you stop and think to yourself "What if it was my son or daughter fighting for their life due to such circumstances??"...then maybe your opinion might be a little more leanient?
    Posted by Opinionated, 15/02/2010 4:56:16 PM, on Illawarra Mercury
    hey.. the young drivers that drive like there king u c my sister she will never walk in her life now SO JUST TO TELL U SLOW DOWN !!! NOW PLZ JUST BE GOOD IN CARS THX KODY
    Posted by kody.lloyd tegans brother, 31/05/2010 10:49:33 PM, on Illawarra Mercury
    hope my sister tegan.lloyd gets better soon love you lots xox
    Posted by kody.lloyd, 16/07/2010 11:56:42 PM, on Illawarra Mercury
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    Crash victim Tegan Lloyd's cousin, Kirsten Koskela (above), pictured with her children, Jayson and Charlotte, and (below) the crushed car. Picture: SYLVIA LIBER
    Crash victim Tegan Lloyd's cousin, Kirsten Koskela (above), pictured with her children, Jayson and Charlotte, and (below) the crushed car. Picture: SYLVIA LIBER
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