Shaylee Kelton was critically injured just metres from her Eden Hill home after she was struck by a car in front of her own family.
The teenager had been crossing a busy stretch of Morley Drive with a friend about 5pm on Tuesday.
She didn’t see the MG3 being driven by a P-plater until it was too late.
Her grandfather Michael Scicluna saw the crash by chance and only realised it was his granddaughter when he rushed to help.
“She was on her side and we didn’t want to move her,” he said.
“Everyone was saying ‘do this and do that’ and I just said ‘no, leave her alone, I’m her grandfather’.
“She was lying there unconscious, not moving, so I just spoke to her and spoke to her.
“The next thing she started gargling and coughed out some blood and I knew she was alive.”
The teenager sustained life-altering injuries including two fractures to her skull and bleeding on the brain.
She will remain in an induced coma until the full extent of her brain injuries are clear.
Her family on Tuesday told 9News the next two days would be a waiting game.
While the incident is still being probed by major crash detectives, the girl’s family has “nothing but forgiveness for the young driver”.
“It was an accident, kids are kids, it happens too often,” Scicluna said.
“Kids just have to be wary and be more vigilant on the roads.”
