3-month-old critical after deadly crash

Published May 25, 2015

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Cape Town - A four-year-old girl died and her three-month-old baby sister is in a critical condition after the driver of a BMW crashed into their car.

The accident took place on Valhalla Drive between Robert Sobukwe Drive and John Jansen Road on Saturday.

Tatum Brown, 4, was killed instantly, while the baby miraculously survived the crash after she was flung from the car.

Sources say the children, who were sitting in the backseat, were not strapped in, as is required by law.

The infant was found lying near the wreckage by a policeman, who picked her up and rushed her to the nearest hospital.

A source says the baby has blood clots in her brain, which was being drained on Sunday.

“She is awake, which is a very good sign,” said the source.

The driver of their VW Polo had to be removed with the jaws of life, while the little girls’ mother, Natalie Scheepers, was taken to hospital with minor injures.

On Sunday, family and friends came to console Tatum’s heartbroken granny Florita Brown, 60, and her dad Rodrique Brown, 36, at their home in Blackheath.

With tears in her eyes, Florita says: “Tatum was life. She was only a year old when she had to have an emergency operation. There was a hole in her heart and we were told that she might not survive the operation. But she survived, she fought to survive.”

Tatum stayed with her grandmother during the week and went home to her mom on weekends.

“She was a quiet child, fun but not naughty,” said Florita.

“She liked to have her picture taken and also to make videos. She brought light with her wherever she went. Rodrique will miss her very much. She was everything to him.”

An emotional Rodrique was not ready to speak to the media, but posted a message on Facebook, saying: “RIP my angel, my everything, daddy will love you and miss you for always and ever, gone too soon but never will be forgotten. I love you so much.”

Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide and no arrests have been made yet.

Daily Voice

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