She doesn't know her mum is dead: Disabled daughter of Cardiff hit-and-run victim is on "dream holiday" in Florida

Police also made an appeal for information about a mystery Renault Clio and confirmed the van driver physically assaulted people with a weapon between crashes

 

A disabled little girl whose mother was killed in a horrific hit-and-run rampage is on a "dream holiday" in Florida and is unaware that she has died, it has been revealed.
Karina Menzies, 32, was mown down outside a fire station near her home in Cardiff.
Just hours before she was hit by a white van as she walked home, the mum-of-three had tweeted thanking the Dreamflight charity taking her daughter to America.
She wrote: "completely blown away by the opportunites u have given my child,cannot thank u enough n i kno [daughter's name] is havin a ball!! Xx" (sic)

 The revelation came as police made an appeal for information about a mystery car seen driving on the wrong side of the road shortly before the crashes.
Detectives are continuing to question a 31-year-old man on suspicion of her murder as well as investigating reports that he deliberately knocked people down in the Welsh capital with a white Iveco van.
Detective Superintendent Paul Hurley confirmed reports that the suspect left his vehicle and physically assaulted people between the crashes and also carried a weapon.
The officer said: "We are aware the suspect assaulted people outside his vehicle," and he added police were "looking to identify and recover" the weapon.
He said no firearm was involved and there was no suggestion anyone had been stabbed.
Mr Hurley urged witnesses to get in touch and asked for information about a black Renault Clio seen driving on the wrong side of the road of Western Avenue, not far from Cowbridge Road West, where one crash happened.
The horrific events began when police received calls about an incident in Crossways Road in Ely at 3.30pm.
This was soon followed by other reports of hit-and-run collisions in several locations in the west of the city, including Grand Avenue, Cowbridge Road West and the Leckwith Retail Park.
There was no full registration details for the Clio but officers said it carried on 05 plate.
Fourteen people were injured in the crashes, nine remain in hospital.
Five are children and two adults remain in a critical condition.
Seventy officers are working on the investigation.

 

 

Floral tributes have been laid at the scene where Ms Menzies was killed.
Among those paying their respects this morning was local Labour MP Kevin Brennan.
He said: "It's absolutely shocking what has happened and the fact that someone has appeared to use a vehicle as a weapon.
"Karina was a well-liked mother who had three children.
"One of her children is disabled and is currently on a dream holiday in Florida.
"This incident is beyond senseless and has rocked the whole community."

 

 

Scores of tributes have been paid to Ms Menzies on social networking sites.
Facebook user Katy Johanna Benson wrote: "Rest in piece Karina Menzies. Sleep tight beautiful angel and may the scum responsible for this senseless, evil murder be brought to justice. Cant imagine what her family are feeling."
Facebook user Marine Thomas wrote: "r.i.p karina i didnt know u personally but from what ive heard u were a fab mum and will be missed very much :( this is a cruel world we live in and its always the good ones that go first. sleep tight angel."
Facebook user Jeff Cornwall wrote: "I never knew you but such a vile tragedy I live not far from this awful mess rest in peace pet."
Ely sub-postmaster Shady Taha, 29, had just served two girls aged about 10 and a woman in her mid-20s moments before one of the hit-and-runs in Grand Avenue, immediately outside a row of shops.
He said: "All of a sudden I heard a bang. I looked out and across the road one girl was on the floor and the other girl was screaming.
"I heard a van speed off but I did not see it."

 

 

Lynda Paterson, who lives in Cowbridge Road West, described the scene outside her house as chaotic.
"I was going to pick my children up from school and I could see there were police and someone was lying on the floor, on the pavement," she added.
"I could see police running back and forth along the road and I now know a child had been hit."
Other eyewitnesses said pedestrians were deliberately targeted by someone driving a white van.
"We had a customer in our shop who said the van mounted the kerb like the driver wanted to run down young kids with their parents," a female shop worker in Grand Avenue, who did not want to be named, said.
The A&E department at the University Hospital of Wales was initially shut to anyone not involved in the incident but has now reopened.
Dr Grahame Shortland, medical director at the hospital, said those being treated mostly had fractures and head injuries.
The crime scenes included Ely fire station, an area near the Merrie Harrier pub in Llandough on the outskirts of Cardiff, where the suspect was arrested, and Leckwith Retail Park - next to the Cardiff City Stadium.
Superintendent Julian Williams said: "This is a tragic incident that has affected a large number of people, and we thank the people of Cardiff for their help and support.
"Incidents like this are extremely rare here, as they are across South Wales, and we want to reassure the public that a significant number of officers are working on the investigation, including a number of specialist resources.
"Whether the actions were deliberate or reckless is a matter for the inquiry and the person will obviously be spoken to."
Anyone with any information about the incidents is urged to contact police on 01656 655555.

The victims

Police have released details of the 14 victims of a hit-and-run rampage in Cardiff.
The youngest was a toddler aged 23 months while the oldest was a 49-year-old woman.
There were five different crash sites - spread out over an area of around three miles - and officers believe the terrifying spree lasted around 30 minutes.
Here are details of the sites and the casualties:
:: Crossways, Ely
Boy, aged 9 - arm and leg injuries
Girl, aged 8 - head injury
Woman, aged 29 - walking wounded
:: Reptile Centre, Ely
Woman, aged 22 - leg injuries
Girl, aged 2 - facial injuries
Man, aged 24 - minor injuries
:: Ely Fire Station
Woman, Karina Menzies, aged 32 - killed
Girl, aged 23 months - observations only
Girl, aged 8 - head injury
:: Grand Avenue Shops
Man, aged 32 - multiple injuries
Girl, aged 10 - arm injury
Girl, aged 12 - back injury
:: Leckwith Retail Park
Woman, aged 27 - head injury
Woman, aged 49 - multiple injuries