Dad of 12-year-old girl killed after being hit by a car was in the passenger seat

A 12-year-old girl, Abbie McLaren was the unfortunate victim of a car accident on February 12. The vehicle involved in the crash was reported to have her father on board while the driver was said to be near kin of Abbie’s father.

In the late afternoon of Tuesday, February 12, in Motherwell, Abbie McLaren was hit and killed on the road near her home by a car alleged to be driven by 38-year-old Martin McGuire. Martin is reported to be the cousin of Abbie’s father, John McLaren, who was in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

The youngster who is a pupil of Dalziel High School had just stepped off a bus a few seconds before she was knocked down by the car. Following the accident, she was rushed to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, but unfortunately, she could no longer be revived.

McGuire subsequently bagged five charges against him after being arrayed in private at Hamilton Sheriff Court. The charged labeled against him include; death by dangerous driving, causing death while having no insurance and driving with no license. Another charge against him is the charge of taking a car without consent.

To these charges, he made no plea. Sheriff Alasdair MacFadyen remanded McGuire, and he is expected to make further appearances in court in the coming weeks. The scene of the incident has since been filled with tribute and emotional messages about the little girl both from friends and family members alike.

One such tribute comes from a friend, and it reads;

"I hope you have fun up there dancing and being happy. You were the best friend I could have asked for."You lit up every room you were in. We will all miss you. I will miss you. Fly high angel. Taken too soon."

Financial and moral support for the family have not ceased to come in with the neighborhood and mourners in Motherwell deciding to hold a torchlit-walk in memory of Abbie McLaren starting from 6:30 pm this Sunday (February 17).

Abbie’s cousin, Amber also set up a Go Fund Me page to help raise funds for the bereaved family. Currently, the donations made, stand at about $4,000.