The auntie of a six-month-old baby that tragically lost its life following an incident at Tenby’s multi-storey car park, has spoken of the family’s heartbreak, after their holiday in the seaside town over the festive period, turned into their ‘worst nightmare’.
Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that six-month old baby Sophia Kelemen sadly passed away, following a collision on the ground floor at the car park alongside Sainsbury’s, which occurred on the afternoon of Thursday, January 2, at around 4pm.
Emergency services and the Wales Air Ambulance were on the scene for some time following the incident, with the car park and Upper Park Road closed to the public for a period of time, whilst police carried out investigations into the collision, which involved a grey Nissan Qashqai.
According to the baby’s auntie, the person who has been charged, was friends with the family and on holiday with them.
Following the announcement that the child had sadly passed away, a police spokesperson stated: “Sophia Kelemen, from the Leigh, Manchester area, was taken to hospital but died of her injuries on January 3.
Police have confirmed that sadly Sophia Kelemen, from the Leigh, Manchester area (pictured here with her mum, dad and old brother died of her injuries on January 3. (Pic supplied)
“Our thoughts remain with her family at this difficult time. They are being supported by specially trained officers.”
The driver of the vehicle involved in the RTC, thirty-three-year-old Flaviu Naghi, from Wigan, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without a license and without insurance.
He was charged and remanded to appear before Swansea Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, January 4, where he was further remanded to appear before Swansea Crown Court on February 7.
The police spokesperson continued: “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.”
Following heartfelt condolences passed onto the family of Sophia, her auntie Adriana has now set-up a GoFundMe page (at: https://gofund.me/e8c3d8e6), to help the family hold a funeral in their native country of Romania, where she shared: ‘Never in a million years would I have thought I would have to write a post like this.
Baby Sophia with her dad pictured in Tenby by Castle Beach (Pic supplied)
‘A seemingly ordinary day turned into our family’s worst nightmare. A driver under the influence of drugs and alcohol inadvertently hit the pram in which little Sophia was in a supermarket car park.
‘The baby was airlifted to the hospital with a broken pelvis and a brain bleed and was ultimately diagnosed with brain damage due to the impact.
‘Despite the efforts of the doctors, Sophia could not cope with the impact, the surgery, anaesthesia, the brain bleed and all the injuries were too much for her fragile heart, which eventually gave out.
‘I hope to ease a very small part of my brother and sister-in-law’s hurt and suffering and raise part of the necessary funds required for the funeral costs and repatriation, as this was an event no one could have ever expected or planned for, especially right after the Christmas holidays.’