Chesterfield mum's heartache as young daughter fights for life after horror crash

A Chesterfield mum has told of her heartache as her young daughter bravely fights for her life after a serious car crash.
Leah Smith, 21, of Chesterfield.Leah Smith, 21, of Chesterfield.
Leah Smith, 21, of Chesterfield.

Leah Smith, 21, of Chesterfield, was involved in a two-car collision on the A610 near the Excavator restaurant in Buckland Hollow, between Ripley and Ambergate, on the afternoon of October 14.

The youngster was airlifted to hospital with a serious brain injury and still remains in intensive care more than one month later.

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Leah’s mum Tracy Green, 39, has been at her daughter’s bedside everyday since the crash.

“I have never felt so scared,” Tracy said. “It is like the feeling you are in limbo just hoping for a change or an improvement but at the moment it is a day by day and I feel so lucky that she is still with us.”

She added: “Doctors have said possible recovery will take anything from six months to two years. Leah at the moment has not been able to move any of her left side and has not spoken since the crash.”

Leah, who worked at Utilita in Chesterfield, was driving to pick her younger sister up from work, at the time.

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She was cut free from her vehicle and airlifted to the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham where she remains.

Her mum Tracy has been travelling to hospital everyday to see Leah and has not been able to work.

The journey from Chesterfield to Nottingham is costing around £140 a month and is putting a huge financial strain on the single mum.

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“I ask people kindly to donate towards her family’s daily travel expenses while she remains in hospital and also to Leah once awake in order to help her financially as she recovers,” the page says.

“This is going to be a long road to recovery and any help will be greatly appreciated during this time.

“Please support them the best you can during this terribly worrying time.”

Tracy added: “Thank you to all that has supported and showed love and care through this difficult time. I will never forget.”

A Derbyshire police spokesperson said: “There have been no arrests in relation to the incident and our enquiries are ongoing.”

Call police on 101 quoting reference 18*494405 with any information.