A family grieves after their baby daughter dies following a car crash at a Welsh hospital car park.
Rob was pushing Mabli in a pram on the grounds of Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, Wales. His mom was dying from motor neurone disease.
Suddenly, horror happened. A car crossed the road near the hospital entrance, went onto the pavement, and hit them. The car hit Rob, his brother, and Mabli’s pram. She was strapped back inside.
The car threw Rob into a parking space. He only saw Mabli’s pram under the white BMW car and heard terrible noises. A car was airborne, then impact, and chaos broke out.
Nurses helped Rob up, but he could not walk or stand. He needed to find Mabli. Someone walked by holding her, and her body looked lifeless to him. It was a terrible sight.
The car crash threw Mabli far away, traveling 28 meters and reaching 30 mph, according to reports. Mabli’s mom, Gwen, arrived, having been with her dying mother-in-law.
Mabli went to the hospital by helicopter, arriving at Cardiff, then Bristol. Rob and Gwen saw her in a room, where machines and tubes kept her alive. She was so unwell.
Doctors said she likely would not survive. Rob felt sick when he heard this, calling it a horrific thing to hear. They did not believe it at first and felt it was brutal.
Things got worse, Rob said. They sat with Mabli for hours, even with machine noises. Doctors suggested ending life support soon after, marking a difficult time.
Gwen’s sister-in-law was giving birth that day, so they asked doctors to wait. They did not want the cousin’s birthday linked to Mabli’s death. Doctors agreed to hold off a few hours.
After midnight, only Rob and Gwen stayed. They spoke to Mabli, hugging and kissing her gently. Mabli passed away at 12:30 am on June 25, leaving Rob and Gwen devastated.
Rob could not plan his mom’s funeral or be there when she died. The pain and trauma were overwhelming, a feeling he could not describe. Everything happened at once.
Bridget Curtis, 71, caused Mabli’s death by dangerous driving and the court sentenced her to four years. It took 19 months for that sentence. The family felt a “lack of accountability.”
Curtis prepared a statement but answered ‘no comment’ to questions. They wanted answers, Rob said, and saying ‘no comment’ felt disgusting to them. They were extremely angry.
They waited a long time as Curtis pleaded guilty in September 2024, a week before Mabli’s birthday. The sentencing hearing was set for November, which was hard on the family.
The build-up to each court date was bad, with intense anxiety and pressure. They tried to stay strong for their other children and family. It was a terrible ordeal.