By Brendan Rees
Cait Nielsen was driving to her father’s home in late March when her car was struck by another vehicle in Lynbrook, spinning her in the opposite direction and forcing her to crawl from the wreckage.
Ms Nielsen’s 34-year-old partner, her four-year-old son and their puppy were left trapped in her Golf hatchback.
The 24-year-old recalled seeing her wrist “completely deformed” after the crash, at the intersection of South Gippsland Highway and Commercial Road, about 7.30pm on Friday 27 March.
As she scrambled out of the car, Ms Nielsen screamed: “My son’s in the car! Please get my baby out of the car someone.”
She recalled losing consciousness as passers-by came to her aid including a girl from a KFC restaurant holding a bottle of water and a woman believed to be a nurse, while another comforted her son, who luckily walked away with just a bloody nose.
Ms Nielsen was rushed to The Alfred hospital with severe injuries while her partner suffered a broken rib. Sadly, their puppy, which she had just bought 24 hours earlier, died at the scene.
“It all happened so fast … I sat in the car and it starting smoking,” Ms Nielsen recalled. “All the airbags went off. The windscreen was smashed.”
Ms Nielsen said the impact was so great her seatbelt had “ripped” into her.
“I have severe haematoma which is internal bruising so my stomach is all lumpy, it looks like bits are out of place.”
A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed police were investigating, saying three occupants of the other vehicle, aged 39, 10 and six all from Cranbourne North, did not sustain injuries.
“Both drivers are assisting police with their enquiries and the investigation into the exact cause of the collision remains ongoing,” the spokesperson said.
However, according to Ms Nielsen police had called her to say no witnesses had come forward and therefore they were “closing the investigation“.
It’s the second time in six months Ms Nielsen has had a car written-off after an person allegedly high on drugs ploughed into her parked car last September, leaving her $8000 out-of-pocket and unable to insure her current car.
Three weeks on since the crash, she was still shaken saying: “The thought of me driving a car, it just freaks me out so much“.
“I got this massive scar on my right arm. I can’t open my fingers yet because of all the swelling,” she said. “Having a four-year-old and trying to do things around the house, it’s not easy.”
Ms Nielsen hoped by sharing her story she could thank the passers-by who had helped.
“Your kind doing gives me faith back in humanity. Thank you so much,” she wrote on social media.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, with dashcam footage or with any information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
