Mother suffered unsurvivable brain damage
The Age
Chloe Booker, Marissa Calligeros, Rania Spooner
September 25,2015
Monkey-bike mows down mum-of-two
Andrea Lehane remains in a critical condition in hospital after one in a group of five youths on motorbikes struck her in a Carrum Downs car park on Wednesday.
A Melbourne mother who was run down and left for dead by a gang of young hoons on mini "monkey" motorbikes has suffered "unsurvivable brain damage".
The family of Andrea Lehane, who described her as "extraordinary wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunty, niece and friend", confirmed her condition as they kept a vigil at her bedside, radio station 3AW reported on Friday.
Ms Lehane, 34, was struck walking across a pedestrian crossing in the Carrum Downs Regional Shopping Centre car park about 5.10pm on Wednesday.
Andrea Lehane with husband James Lehane. Photo: Facebook
She will leave behind two children aged three and four.
Her distraught husband, James, released a statement on Friday morning, saying his wife would not survive the incident.
"On Wednesday afternoon my family's lives changed in an instant from a careless and avoidable accident," he said.
"As a result of the impact, my wife suffered unsurvivable brain damage.
"The team at The Alfred have done an extraordinary job, but the damage has been confirmed to be too great.
"Being a nurse, Andy was always keen on organ donation, so as a family we have consented to her going through a complete organ donation process.
"Some time today or tomorrow she will go into theatre, with her life support machines, for her final act of caring and giving.
"I will be taking her children, her three-year-old son and four-year-old daughter, to see their mum for the last time before this occurs.
"She was an extraordinary wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunty, niece and friend. She was very content in her life and loved and cared for her family and friends - she always put them first. She will always be remembered and missed. Words cannot explain how I feel."
Mr Lehane has requested privacy for his family, saying they would like time to grieve.
Ms Lehane was flown to The Alfred hospital in a critical condition with severe head and chest injuries on Wednesday.
Police described the behaviour of the five motorcycle riders, believed to be teenage boys, as "callous".
Confronting CCTV footage shows them roaring through the busy carpark and slamming into Ms Lehane as she nears the end of the pedestrian crossing.
The first rider passed her, then performed a wheelie, while the second bike, carrying two people, struck her.
The two boys fell off the bike, after which the passenger ran off, while the rider jumped back on his bike and sped off.
One woman, who asked not to be named, described the horrific sight of seeing her laying face down on the ground.
"Everyone was just trying to help her out," she said, still visibly shaken.
"There was just blood everywhere, flowing everywhere.
"They need to do something to make it safer."
She said one bystander had jumped into a nearby car and chased after the group of hoons fleeing on their bikes.
"My thoughts are for her now," she said, after laying a card among the flowers.
Meanwhile, local residents have likened the shopping centre car park to a "drag strip".
"Everyone drives way too fast around it, like a drag strip, and definitely not enough lighting at night. She was hit on the crossing!" one woman said on Facebook.
"Too awful for words."
Residents placed flowers and a teddy bear next to the pedestrian crossing where the woman was struck, along with notes expressing support and sympathy.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with you, get well soon," one note reads.
"We weep for all, we pray for humanity," another states.
Detective Inspector Bernie Rankin, from the Major Collision Investigation Unit, said it was not yet clear whether the youths were riding "monkey" bikes or other motorcycles.
It is illegal to ride "monkey" bikes, also known as pocket bikes, on public roads or footpaths, but the small vehicles can easily be bought online. The bikes have a top speed of 70km/h.
Frankston Council, which takes in Carrum Downs, was the first in Victoria to ban the bikes in 2007.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
With Bianca Hall, Cameron Houston and Mikaela Day
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