The younger sister of a teenager who died in a horror car crash while on her way to see Taylor Swift is “not out of the woods yet” as she recovers in hospital.
Mieka Pokarier, 16, died when the SUV she was traveling in with her mother and sister collided with a semi-trailer near Dubbo, central western New South Wales, about 6pm on Thursday.
Freya, the teenager’s 10-year-old sister, was transported by plane from the scene on Dunedoo Road in Ballimore and rushed to Sydney’s Westmead Children’s Hospital suffers brain injuries, a damaged pelvis and a broken leg.
Swift, who performed her fourth show in Melbourne on Sunday night, was informed of the horror accident, Daily Mail Australia understands.
The girls’ godmother, Karleigh Fox, said Freya would remain in an induced coma for several days in an update to a GoFundMe page raising money for the family.
“We have had some extensive conversations with incredible doctors about the potential prognosis and we are not out of the woods yet as the risks of inflammation in the brain and infection are still evident,” Ms Fox wrote on Saturday evening.
“This could still be life-threatening.”
He will remain in a coma to give his body “a chance to lie still and hopefully recover as much as possible,” his godmother wrote.
Fox said the family was preparing for when Freya regained consciousness.
“So we’ll see a lot of anxiety and distress on her part and possible burnout on Mom’s caregiver, since that’s the person our daughter will love the most,” she said.
Fox said the girls’ mother, Kim Litchfield, was “still very sore, bruised and sluggish” but was supporting Freya at her bedside along with her father Peter Pokarierand.
The younger sister of a teenager who died in a horrific crash while on his way to see Taylor Swift is “not out of the woods yet” and will remain in a coma. Mieka (right) sadly died at the scene, while Freya (left) was airlifted to Westmead Children’s Hospital in a critical condition.
Taylor Swift (pictured in Melbourne) has been informed of the horror accident, 7News reports
She previously recalled how excited Mieka was to take the “trip of a lifetime” to see Swift perform in both Sydney and Melbourne.
“They spent up to eight hours cooling off trying to get tickets, they are really dedicated and were excited to get tickets to both shows in Melbourne and Sydney,” he said.
Mrs. Fox still hasn’t really come to terms with the tragedy.
“It just feels like Mieka might be staying at someone’s house and I think it’s really going to affect us… when we get home. The reality is she’s not coming back,” he said. nine news.
“Then to make it a big vacation, it was supposed to be an 11-day road trip to meet friends and see the sights.”
Fox said her “smart and creative” goddaughter was a longtime Swiftie.
“She’s been a Taylor Swift fan for over 10 years and she loved math, she loved ceramics, she was always making things with ceramics and going to classes,” she said.
“She was very talented and always loved creating loom bracelets and friendship bracelets.”
Swift fans, known as Swifties, exchange self-made bracelets
Now many make them in honor of Mieka, with her name written on them.
Ms Fox added that Mieka and Freya were “superfans” of Swift.
‘We’ve had Taylor on repeat for the last 10 years. How her music just changed these girls, she empowered them, she gave them self-confidence, she gave them hope, especially during Covid times, it was a really tough time for kids.
Mieka had been listening to Swift’s music when tragedy struck while the family was driving to Melbourne from Queensland to see Swift on the Australian leg of her Eras tour.
The screen of Mieka’s iPad, which was eerily unharmed in the accident, showed that she had Swift’s song All of the Girls You Loved Before playing in the moments before her death.
‘When we opened the iPad, it was heartbreaking. “Mieka’s cat’s name is Mr Perfectly Fine, which is a Taylor song,” Mrs Fox said.
The song Mieka had been listening to as part of her travel playlist was recorded during the sessions for Swift’s 2019 album Lover, but was only released in March 2023 to mark the global launch of the tour Mieka was so excited about. excited to see.
Swift fans, known as Swifties, exchange self-made bracelets, and many are now making them in Mieka’s honour, with her name on them (pictured).
Mieka Pokarier, 16, was traveling with her mother and younger sister to Melbourne from the Gold Coast to see Taylor Swift in concert when their SUV collided with a truck.
Frozen on Mieka’s iPad screen, which remained unscathed, was the last song she heard: Swift’s song All of the Girls You Loved Before.
Mrs Litchfield, who was driving the van, suffered several injuries in the accident and was taken to Dubbo Hospital.
The driver of the semi-trailer suffered minor injuries and was also taken to Dubbo Hospital in a stable condition.
Ms Litchfield was discharged from hospital and also headed to Sydney to “reunite with her baby”.
“We’re playing her favorite Taylor Swift album, 1989 Taylor’s Version, over and over in her room and telling her about the products we see people buying online,” Fox posted online.
“It takes five people to roll her over and check for marks that could turn into sores from being in the same position during the induced coma.”
Ms Fox said the family was struggling to “navigate even knowing the layout of the hospital, processing the complex trauma to our little one’s organs and processing the profound loss of our 16-year-old son”.
The sisters’ godmother, Karleigh Fox, said she, along with the girls’ father and mother, had traveled to Westmead Children’s Hospital in Sydney and were at Freya’s side.
The family were on the “trip of a lifetime” to see Swift in Melbourne (pictured) and Sydney and spent hours updating the ticket purchase page.
Emergency crews are called to the scene of the accident near Dubbo on Thursday.
It was learned that Mieka was sitting in the passenger seat when the accident occurred.
On Saturday, Mieka and Freya’s father, Peter Pokarier, shared his grief on Facebook.
“That’s my baby that died,” she wrote.
The Gold Coast family was heading to Melbourne to see Swift’s sold-out show. Concert at the MCG.
The pop superstar kicked off the Australian leg of her Eras tour in Melbourne on Friday night with around 96,000 fans in attendance.
TO GoFundMe The page created Friday to raise money for the devastated family had raised more than $50,000 as of Sunday night.
Pokarier, the girl’s father, also shared a link to GoFundMe. He said his family is “what I live for, I’m devastated.”
Tributes have also poured in from friends on social media.
Cheyenne Craig remembered how Mieka was learning to drive. “How is it fair that someone as sweet and beautiful as you was taken from us so soon?” she wrote on social media.
“Mieka was the sweetest, most down-to-earth person you would ever have the privilege of meeting, her stupid jokes that always didn’t make sense but somehow always made you laugh… and the way we had fun with each other. the whole day talking about concerts.’
Fox said the family is “blown away by the support.” “So many Swifties are signing up and sending beautiful messages of love…we are truly overwhelmed.”
He added that ‘the messages… will be read by the family when they are ready.’
Thick black smoke was seen rising from the road where the van and truck collided.
Her younger sister, Freya, was flown to Westmead Hospital in Sydney by paramedics.
Swift is in Australia for her Eras tour and played her fourth night at the MCG on Sunday.
The sisters had been part of the Gold Coast Youth Theater Academy.
Simone Medland also stated that Mieka is passionate about music and concerts.
‘I was very happy to see you happy living your life and going to concerts. “You deserve to be happy and there are so many people who care about you,” she said.
‘I wouldn’t trade these last few years I had with you for the world and I wish I could see you one more time. “We had so many plans for things we needed to do together and it will always be my biggest regret that I didn’t get the chance to do it.”
A report will be prepared for the coroner.