Three-year-old Mila Wang was on her way to a school bus stop, accompanied by her older sister, grandmother, and two friends, when tragedy struck.

As they made their way across a designated pedestrian crossing in Melbourne’s southeast, Mila, who was a few steps ahead, was struck by a vehicle driven by Kamal Ghali. Ghali, ignoring a red traffic light, collided with the little girl.

The impact sent Mila soaring through the air, landing nearly 30 meters away. Her grandmother rushed to her side, cradling her as other drivers halted to offer assistance.

Ghali, aged 25, stopped his car at the scene but chose to call his father instead of contacting emergency services.

Other witnesses dialed triple zero, and paramedics arrived to provide aid. Despite their efforts, Mila succumbed to her injuries at the hospital later on October 17, 2024.

Her mother Wenna Lin told a packed Victorian County Court today that her daughter’s death had changed her life forever.

“Once her laughter and joy filled our home, now there is only silence,” her statement read to the court said.

“We will carry this emptiness for the rest of our lives.”

Lin said her older daughter, who was seven at the time of the collision, was also dealing with unimaginable grief.

“She is very confused about where exactly her sister has gone,” the statement said.

“She asks if she can go to heaven so Mila can come back home.”

Lin sobbed as her statement was read aloud, while Ghali also wiped away tears as he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing Mila’s death.

He told police it was bright as he was driving along Heatherton Road in Endeavour Hills so he looked down and the little girl must have run onto the road.

But prosecutor Matthew Fisher told the court the traffic light had been red for four to five seconds, and Mila and her family had the right of way to cross.

It was accepted Ghali was not speeding in the 80km/h zone, nor was he using his phone or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

But Fisher said Ghali was familiar with the area and there were multiple warning signs alerting him to the pedestrian crossing.

“This is not a case of momentary inattention or a lapse in concentration,” the prosecutor said.

“But for a split second or a minute or two, there could well have been five victims in this case.”

Ghali’s barrister Kyle McDonald told the court his client accepted, through his plea, that he should have seen the red light.

But McDonald argued Ghali had shown remorse and his moral culpability was low so it was open to the judge to impose a sentence other than jail time.

Ghali had a diagnosed adjustment disorder and suicidal ideation as a result of the crash so his time in custody would also be more difficult, the barrister noted.

But Fisher argued a jail term with a non-parole was the only available sentence, describing the case as a very serious example of dangerous driving.

Judge Trevor Wraight agreed and remanded Ghali into custody ahead of his sentencing hearing in December.

Ghali dropped his head into his hands, while some of his family and friends cried as he was led from the courtroom by guards.