Sophia Kelemen was killed during a holiday with her family when she was hit in a car park on January 2, with a witness saying hearing her mum cry was ‘absolutely gut-wrenching’
A witness has described the “gut-wrenching” screams of a mother after her six-month-old baby was hit and killed in a car park last week.
Little Sophia Kelemen, from Leigh, Greater Manchester, died following the collision on the ground floor of the car park in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, on January 2. She was airlifted to hospital in Cardiff with severe brain injuries but died a day later.
Flaviu Naghi, who was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without a license and without insurance, faced magistrates on Saturday and will next appear at Swansea Crown Court on February 7. Witnesses said Sophia’s distraught mum could be heard crying and screaming after the tragedy.
“We could hear the baby’s mother crying. It was absolutely gut-wrenching,” one said. Simran Jit Singhm was on his break in a fish and chip shop next-door when the baby was hit, The Sun reported. The 24-year-old said: “The father was being comforted by a man saying that his daughter would be okay.”
But sadly, Sophie died on January 3. Yesterday, her family paid an emotional tribute to the little girl, who had just celebrated her first Christmas and was on a holiday with her family, including her mum Betty and older brother, aged five, in south Wales at the time of the incident.
Her auntie, Adriana Kelemen, sister to Sophia’s dad Alex, said: “They were on a getaway in Wales with family friends. It was their last day and they had been out and then went to the supermarket. It happened in the car park. The pram that she [Sophia] was in was left in the worst condition. She was airlifted to hospital due to the severity of her injuries and needed treatment as soon as possible.
“They were told she had suffered a bleed on her brain and she was shortly after diagnosed with brain damage. Overnight she had to have surgery. The following day we tried to drive down to Cardiff, but by the time myself and my sister arrived she had already died.”
Adriana, who grew up in Romania and moved to the UK in 2015, said: “We had just been together at Christmas. Sophia hardly ever cried. She was so smiley and bubbly. We used to say she was so advanced for her age. She really wanted to walk, and was really excited, playful and energetic. She was the cutest and most adorable girl, who had just started babbling. It’s horrible we didn’t get the chance to see her grow up or make memories with her.”
Confirming Sophia’s death, a spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys police said: “Sadly, we can confirm that a six-month-old baby girl has died following a collision on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park in Tenby on January 2. Sophia Kelemen, from the Leigh, Manchester area, was taken to hospital but died of her injuries on January 3.
“Our thoughts remain with her family at this difficult time. They are being supported by specially trained officers. Flaviu Naghi, aged 33, from Wigan, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without a license and without insurance.
“He appeared at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, January 4, where he was further remanded to appear before Swansea Crown Court on February 7. He was also arrested on suspicion of drink driving and drug driving and has been released on bail for these offences. This is a tragic incident and is a live investigation. We ask that you do not speculate the circumstances.”