Major crash investigators charge 47yo driver accused of hitting 3yo Brenten Comeagain and fleeing scene

Charges have been laid against a 47-year-old driver six months after he allegedly hit three-year-old Brenten Comeagain in a Geraldton street and fled the scene while under the influence of drugs. Major crash officers have charged the Rangeway man over the serious crash which saw the young boy run over and dragged along a Karloo street for about 100m on March 14. Brenten, now four, was playing with his cousins on the front lawn of a Karloo home when the incident happened. He received extensive injuries, including severe burns, a fractured skull in three places, a fractured foot, broken legs and other injuries to his face and pelvis and was rushed to Perth Children’s Hospital. His family feared the worst after being told he may not make it, but the “miracle boy”, as his family call him, pulled through and he is back to running and riding his bike. Following extensive investigations, the major crash unit charged the 47-year-old man with careless driving, failing to stop and driving under the influence of drugs this week. Police allege about 6pm that evening, the accused driver was travelling along Aaron Close in a Hyundai i30 when he struck Brenten. It will be alleged the driver failed to stop after hitting the boy. The Rangeway man is charged with careless driving causing death, grievous bodily harm or bodily harm, driving while impaired by drugs and failing to stop to ensure assistance was received. He was summonsed to Geraldton Magistrates Court at a later date. After months of hospital treatment and back and forth travel, Brenten was discharged from the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme in July and was back home permanently. His mother, Klarissa Narkle said he was a strong boy who was speeding through recovery. “Thank you everyone that came forward to put their statements in — I haven’t really thanked them yet,” Ms Narkle said. “We were told he might be in hospital for a year and they thought he wouldn’t be able to walk again, but he got out four months later.”