An 11-Year-Old Girl Caught in the Crossfire: A Tragic Outcome of a Botched Hijacking

On Monday, a foreigner driving a red VW Golf 6 visited Gaba Village informal settlement to collect a puppy he had purchased. Unbeknownst to him, his presence caught the attention of local gang members known as “The Terribles,” who forcefully hijacked his car. Fearing for his life, the driver sought refuge in a nearby flat.

The Gang’s Actions and Community Response

Outraged by the gang’s actions, the community banded together and forced the gangsters to return the vehicle to its rightful owner. However, in the driver’s frantic attempt to flee the scene, he ended up driving into an 11-year-old girl named Devoney Gilbert, who was walking home from school.

Devoney’s Critical Condition

Devoney was standing by a wendy house when the driver hit her. She was trapped under the vehicle, requiring assistance from bystanders to lift the car and free her. Now hospitalized at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Devoney is in critical condition, suffering from spinal and brain damage, with medical staff having to drain the blood from her lungs.

A Mother’s Grief

Devoney’s mother, Ivona, had been at a neighboring scrapyard when she received the news of her daughter’s accident. The distraught mother shared her grief, stating that Devoney had merely stopped to observe the unfolding chaos when the car struck her. The young girl was an innocent victim caught in the crossfire of a botched hijacking.

Police Investigation

The Elsies River police are currently investigating the incident and have confirmed charges of reckless and negligent driving. However, no arrests have been made, and it remains unclear whether the driver of the Golf has filed a criminal case.

The Aftermath

The community of Leonsdale, Elsies River, has been left shaken by the botched hijacking, and a young life hangs in the balance. Devoney’s family is reeling from the tragedy, compounded by the recent loss of Devoney’s father in a fire. It is a tragic outcome of senseless violence that has left an innocent child fighting for her life.