Little girl, 3, who insisted on going home with her grandmother is left fighting for life after horrific car crash just metres from home - and EVERY bone in her nana's face was broken

  • Girl, 3, insisted on going home with her grandma after visiting a trampoline park
  • Avery Sinclair and her nana Melissa were in a single-vehicle crash on February 16
  • The smash happened about 20 kilometres north of Palmerston North about 4pm
  • Avery suffered spinal cord damage, a broken leg and torn ligaments in her neck
  • Ms Sinclair remains at Palmerston North Hospital with serious brain injuries

A three-year-old twin who insisted on going home with her grandmother after visiting a trampoline park has been left in a critical condition after a horrific car accident.

Avery Sinclair and her grandmother Melissa Sinclair, 39, were involved in a single-vehicle crash in Sanson, about 20km north of Palmerston North, New Zealand on February 16 about 4.20pm.

Avery's parents Rochelle and Jonathon received a phone call at 6pm, where they were advised the pair had been in a car accident and were taken to hospital in a critical condition.

Avery Sinclair and her grandmother Melissa Sinclair, 39, were involved in a single-vehicle crash in Sanson, about 20 kilometres north of Palmerston North, on Sunday February 16 about 4.20pm

Avery Sinclair and her grandmother Melissa Sinclair, 39, were involved in a single-vehicle crash in Sanson, about 20 kilometres north of Palmerston North, on Sunday February 16 about 4.20pm

The crash happened about 600m from Avery's home.

'We got the kids in the car [after the phone call] and started to make our way, then I saw the accident cones right on the corner of my street, we put one on one together,' Rochelle wrote on a Facebook page for updates on her daughter. 

'At this stage we did not know if Avery was going to survive, her injuries were serious and she was bleeding out from her lower abdomen.' 

The three-year-old was then flown by helicopter to the Starship Hospital in Auckland, where the family learnt she suffered spinal cord damage, a broken leg and torn ligaments in her neck. 

'The leg and neck wouldn't be a issue, they will heal. But the spinal cord is a massive concern,' Rochelle said.  

Ms Sinclair - Avery's Nana and Jonathon's mum - remains at Palmerston North Hospital with serious brain injuries. Every bone in her face is broken, as well as a shoulder blade, ribs, legs and ankles. 

Jonathon and Rochelle are with Avery during her difficult road to recovery, while Avery's twin brother Lachlan and their five-year-old daughter Madison are staying with extended family in Palmerston North. 

The family do not yet know whether Avery will be able to walk.

'We hope Avery makes a full recovery and gains leg function back but at this stage it's a 50/50 chance and it's the unknown,' Rochelle told Daily Mail Australia.

'We are coping [with the situation] as best as we can and feel Avery has been thrown in the deep end.

A patient update shared to the fundraising page on Thursday said the pair had reached amazing milestones 11 days after the accident. ''Avery is back to being mostly herself,' the update said alongside this picture

A patient update shared to the fundraising page on Thursday said the pair had reached amazing milestones 11 days after the accident. ''Avery is back to being mostly herself,' the update said alongside this picture

'She had anxiety prior to the accident and she also seems confused to what everyone is doing, why they are and why she isn't at home.'  

The accident is being investigated by the police serious crash unit.   

'The wearing or not wearing of proper restraints is part of the ongoing investigation into the incident,' police said.

Rochelle wrote on Facebook: 'Please drive carefully, do not text and drive, wear your seatbelt and if you are travelling with children make sure their car seat is installed properly and the child is in the correct harness.'

On the day of the accident, Avery 'really want to go' with her grandmother after visiting Cloud 9 Trampoline Park in Palmerston North.

'We told her Nana to drive safe, and take care of our baby, not knowing what was about to come,' Rochelle said.   

A Give A Little page was created to ease the financial burden of Avery and Melissa's rehabilitation as well as the travel costs associated with family members visiting the patients.

Ms Sinclair's daughter Jessica flew to New Zealand from Melbourne to be with her mother during the recovery process.

The three-year-old twin insisted on going home with her grandmother after visiting a trampoline park
Three-year-old Avery Sinclair is pictured in hospital

The three-year-old twin insisted on going home with her grandmother after visiting a trampoline park 

A patient update shared to the fundraising page on Thursday said the pair had reached amazing milestones 11 days after the accident. 

'Avery is back to being mostly herself... I'm so proud of how well she has been doing and she is handling everything as best as she can right now,' the update said.

The three-year-old has been able to use her arms and even enjoyed a lollipop.

A CT scan on Ms Sinclair on Wednesday showed an additional brain bleed, which is being closely monitored.

'She is still currently in ICU but is making small progress,' the fundraising page said.

'Her left leg will have surgery to remove the brace, repair broken bones and close wounds. 

'Melissa's facial reconstruction has also been booked.

'Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts for the support and well wishes.' 

More than $3,000 has been raised for the family in five days.  

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Little girl, 3, and grandma critically injured after crash near Palmerston North in New Zealand

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