Father Was Riding in Car That Struck His Daughter, Killing Her

Abbie McLaren, 12, in a file photo. She was struck by a car and killed. (Abbie McLaren/GoFundMe)

A father of a car accident victim was riding in the vehicle that hit his 12-year-old daughter.

John McLaren was riding in the passenger seat when the car hit Abbie McLaren on Feb. 12 in Motherwell, Scotland.

An eyewitness to the aftermath said he ran to watch when he heard a loud noise.

“I was watching TV when I heard a loud bang and I jumped up. I saw two males in the front of the car that had been going down the road,” he told the Daily Record.

“The guy in the passenger seat got out as soon as the car stopped and ran over to where the girl was. He just stood there completely frozen, he couldn’t move or say a thing. The driver ran back up to where it all happened and just kept shouting, ‘Does anyone know CPR?’ But CPR wouldn’t have saved her, it was just awful,” the witness added.

Abbie was hit shortly after getting off a bus from Dalziel High School. She was rushed to a nearby hospital but was soon pronounced dead.

Footage from a surveillance camera near the scene of the accident captured what happened but has not been made public.

Abbie’s cousin Amber White, 18, said that Abbie “loved having a laugh and being goofy with everyone.

“Abbie was really clever but most of all, she just loved spending time with family and friends,” she added. “She was a really caring, nice person. Everyone is in total shock it hasn’t sunk in.”

Court Hearing

The man who was driving the vehicle that hit Abbie, Martin McGuire, 38, a cousin of Abbie’s father, appeared in court on Feb. 15 on five driving charges.

McGuire made no plea, reported the BBC.

McGuire was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, causing death while having no insurance, driving without a license, driving without insurance, and taking a car without consent.

He is being held and was scheduled to appear in court again next week.

Abbie’s grandmother took to Facebook to remember her granddaughter.

“Well tonite my heart has been ripped out I can’t express how a feel my precious grandaughter abbie has been taking away from us tonite so young and so beautiful,” she wrote, according to The Scottish Sun. “Let the angels look after her now she will sadly be missed and a part off my heart has died with her too i love you so much abbie words can’t explain how a will not cope without you now.”

“You always lit up the room every time you came in always giving us kisses and cuddles.”

A number of people contributed to a memorial where Abbie was hit, leaving balloons, flowers, and stuffed animals.

“To my niece Abbie, you were a lovely, happy girl so full of life.s kisses and cuddles,” read one. “I will miss your happy wee face. We will miss you terribly, you have been taken too early.”

Another was posted on a photograph showing Abbie and her dog, with the words: “Abbie sleep tight little angel.”

A fundraiser launched on GoFundMe for the McLaren family has raised nearly £4,000 (around $5,000) over two days, with more than 200 people donating.

From NTD News