A tragic connection has emerged in the case of the 13-year-old girl who was fatally struck by a car in Renti: four years ago, her sibling also died in a traffic accident, having been hit by a bus in Kamatero.

Today, the 21-year-old driver who hit the girl in the early hours of Thursday (April 24) at the junction of Thivon Avenue and Kanapitsari Street in Renti, is expected to testify in court. The young girl succumbed to her injuries from the incident.

The driver, an economics student from a university in the provinces, appeared in court in Piraeus yesterday visibly distressed and with his head down. He requested and received a postponement and is expected to give his statement today.

Authorities Searching for the Minor’s Mother

The traffic police are actively searching for the girl’s mother, who has not appeared before the authorities—possibly out of fear of being charged with child neglect. Meanwhile, the father is in prison, and no relative came to the hospital where the girl was taken.

Driver’s Alcohol Test Came Back Negative

The driver tested negative for alcohol, and a blood sample has been taken for a toxicology screening. He remained at the scene after the fatal accident, which occurred around 1:45 a.m., and was arrested. He faces charges of negligent homicide.

The girl was rushed with severe injuries to the General State Hospital of Nikaia, where doctors made heroic efforts to save her life, but she unfortunately passed away.

She Slept Under a Bridge and Was Washing Car Windows

The incident also brought to light the dire living conditions of Roma families residing under the Petrou Ralli bridge. The 13-year-old lived with her family in a Roma settlement in Korydallos, but would often sleep under the bridge, right next to Thivon Avenue.

Many locals had seen her washing car windows at traffic lights, wandering the sidewalks in tattered and dirty clothes, particularly around Thivon and Petrou Ralli.

It is still unclear whether the girl was alone at the traffic island at the time of the accident or if she was accompanied by an adult. This is another reason the authorities are seeking her mother, as they investigate possible child supervision negligence. Reports also indicate that the girl’s father did not live with the family.

Surveillance Video Captures the Fatal Incident

A security camera from a nearby shop recorded the moment of the fatal accident and was shared by protothema.gr.

In the video, the car driven by the 21-year-old is seen traveling down Thivon Avenue toward Nikaia when it strikes the girl who was standing on the curb.

A cloud of dust can be seen from the sudden braking of the vehicle, and panicked bystanders are seen rushing to help the injured girl.

The 13-year-old collapsed on the pavement, bleeding and severely injured, before being picked up by an ambulance and transported to the General State Hospital of Nikaia.

Despite doctors’ efforts to save her, she died shortly afterward due to the extent of her injuries.