Bedside vigil kept for Melbourne mother Andrea Lehane after Carrum Downs hit and run

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Bedside vigil kept for Melbourne mother Andrea Lehane after Carrum Downs hit and run

By Chloe Booker, Marissa Calligeros and Rania Spooner
Updated

A Melbourne mother who was run down and left for dead by a gang of teenagers on mini "monkey" motorbikes has suffered "unsurvivable brain damage".

The family of Andrea Lehane, who described her as "extraordinary wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunty, niece and friend", confirmed her condition as they kept a vigil at her bedside, radio station 3AW reported on Friday.

Ms Lehane, 34, was struck walking across a pedestrian crossing in the Carrum Downs Regional Shopping Centre car park about 5.10pm on Wednesday.

She will leave behind two children aged three and four.

Andrea Lehane with husband James Lehane.

Andrea Lehane with husband James Lehane.Credit: Facebook

Her distraught husband, James, released a statement on Friday morning, saying his wife would not survive the incident.

"On Wednesday afternoon my family's lives changed in an instant from a careless and avoidable accident," he said.

"As a result of the impact, my wife suffered unsurvivable brain damage.

"The team at The Alfred have done an extraordinary job, but the damage has been confirmed to be too great.

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Andrea Lehane was a mother of two.

Andrea Lehane was a mother of two. Credit: Facebook

"Being a nurse, Andy was always keen on organ donation, so as a family we have consented to her going through a complete organ donation process.

"Some time today or tomorrow she will go into theatre, with her life support machines, for her final act of caring and giving.

"I will be taking her children, her three-year-old son and four-year-old daughter, to see their mum for the last time before this occurs.

"She was an extraordinary wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunty, niece and friend. She was very content in her life and loved and cared for her family and friends - she always put them first. She will always be remembered and missed. Words cannot explain how I feel."

Mr Lehane has requested privacy for his family, saying they would like time to grieve.

Ms Lehane was flown to The Alfred hospital in a critical condition with severe head and chest injuries on Wednesday.

Police described the behaviour of the five motorcycle riders, believed to be teenage boys, as "callous".

Confronting CCTV footage shows them roaring through the busy carpark and slamming into Ms Lehane as she nears the end of the pedestrian crossing.

The first rider passed her, then performed a wheelie, while the second bike, carrying two people, struck her.

The two boys fell off the bike, after which the passenger ran off, while the rider jumped back on his bike and sped off.

One woman, who asked not to be named, described the horrific sight of seeing her laying face down on the ground.

"Everyone was just trying to help her out," she said, still visibly shaken.

"There was just blood everywhere, flowing everywhere.

She said one bystander had jumped into a nearby car and chased after the group of hoons fleeing on their bikes.

"My thoughts are for her now," she said, after laying a card among the flowers.

Meanwhile, local residents have likened the shopping centre car park to a "drag strip".

"Everyone drives way too fast around it, like a drag strip, and definitely not enough lighting at night. She was hit on the crossing!" one woman said on Facebook."Too awful for words."

Residents placed flowers and a teddy bear next to the pedestrian crossing where the woman was struck, along with notes expressing support and sympathy.

Detective Inspector Bernie Rankin, from the Major Collision Investigation Unit, said it was not yet clear whether the youths were riding "monkey" bikes or other motorcycles.

Frankston Council, which takes in Carrum Downs, was the first in Victoria to ban the bikes in 2007.

It is illegal to ride most monkey bikes, also known as pocket bikes, on public roads or footpaths.

However some monkey bikes, including a line manufactured by Honda, do comply with Australian Design Rules and, therefore, can be registered.It is understood those select bikes have the right compliance plates to meet Australian road safety standards.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

To register or find out more information on how to become an organ donor visit donatelife.gov.au/decide

With Bianca Hall, Cameron Houston and Mikaela Day

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