Family keep vigil on hit-and-run victim
By Jo Deeks on Thursday, 14th October 2004.
A family is keeping a vigil at the bedside of a teenager who is battling for his life following a hit-and-run collision.
Lewis Smith, 19, was still in a coma in Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, yesterday after suffering serious head injuries, broken ribs and two broken legs in a collision on the A143 at Barnardiston in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Lewis was with a group of 12 friends who were walking near the jaybeth Animal Sanctuary just after 2.25am when he was hit by the dark-coloured vehicle.
his father Shayne and mother Alison have been with Lewis in the neuro intensive care unit since he arrived.
Lewis, who was in the army until six months ago, was put into an induced coma to reduce pressure on his brain. He has bolts in his shattered shins and had to have them operated on while in the intensive care unit.
His sister, Becky, 22, said she believed it was the fact he was with friends who got help and did not move him, that had saved his life.
"The doctors said it had really helped him because he is so strong and physically fit. He is hanging in there and he won't give in without a fight. They had all been to a private party at Stradishall and I don't know why they were walking home. They were walking in a line and when they heard a car coming, Lewis turned around to face the car and waved to warn the driver. His friends said the car hit him and he flew into the air. The thing we have found most difficult to cope with as a family is that if the driver knew he had hit Lewis, why didn't he stop? Even if he did not want to stop there, to go home to bed and not report it is unforgivable. We are just thankful that Lewis was not alone; it does not bear thinking about what could have happened. The staff at Addenbrookes' have been fantastic and someone has been with him all the time. I work nights so I can go in when mum and dad are not there, and his grandfather who lives in Spain flew home to see him as well."
A 30-year-old man from Haverhill has been arrested and bailed on suspicion of failing to stop at the scene of an accident.
Lewis Smith, 19, was still in a coma in Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, yesterday after suffering serious head injuries, broken ribs and two broken legs in a collision on the A143 at Barnardiston in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Lewis was with a group of 12 friends who were walking near the jaybeth Animal Sanctuary just after 2.25am when he was hit by the dark-coloured vehicle.
his father Shayne and mother Alison have been with Lewis in the neuro intensive care unit since he arrived.
Lewis, who was in the army until six months ago, was put into an induced coma to reduce pressure on his brain. He has bolts in his shattered shins and had to have them operated on while in the intensive care unit.
His sister, Becky, 22, said she believed it was the fact he was with friends who got help and did not move him, that had saved his life.
"The doctors said it had really helped him because he is so strong and physically fit. He is hanging in there and he won't give in without a fight. They had all been to a private party at Stradishall and I don't know why they were walking home. They were walking in a line and when they heard a car coming, Lewis turned around to face the car and waved to warn the driver. His friends said the car hit him and he flew into the air. The thing we have found most difficult to cope with as a family is that if the driver knew he had hit Lewis, why didn't he stop? Even if he did not want to stop there, to go home to bed and not report it is unforgivable. We are just thankful that Lewis was not alone; it does not bear thinking about what could have happened. The staff at Addenbrookes' have been fantastic and someone has been with him all the time. I work nights so I can go in when mum and dad are not there, and his grandfather who lives in Spain flew home to see him as well."
A 30-year-old man from Haverhill has been arrested and bailed on suspicion of failing to stop at the scene of an accident.
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