Family tributes to ‘smiley’ six-month-old baby who died after crash at car park

Gergana Krasteva and Katie Boyden

Published January 6, 2025 1:20pm Updated January 6, 2025 9:48pm

Sophia Kelemen had just spent her first Christmas with her family (Picture: PA)

A baby girl has died after suffering critical injuries in a crash at a multi-storey car park in South Wales.

Sophia Kelemen, who was just six-months-old, died in hospital 24 hours after the incident in Tenby.

Emergency services were called to the ground floor of the car park at 4pm on January 2.

The child, who was from Leigh in Greater Manchester, was hospitalised, but nothing could be done to save her and she was pronounced dead the following day.

Her aunt, Adriana Kelemen, brother to Sophia’s dad Alex, has paid tribute to her, saying she was ‘so advanced for her age’ and ‘so smiley and bubbly’.

They had only just spent Christmas together, and one of the last photos of the family together, including Sophia, was taken during their trip to Wales.

A 6-month-old baby girl has died following a collision on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park in Tenby on January 2. Sophia Kelemen, from the Leigh, Manchester area, was taken to hospital but died of her injuries on January 3. Our thoughts remain with her family at this difficult time. They are being supported by specially trained officers. Flaviu Naghi, aged 33, from Wigan, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without a license and without insurance. He appeared at Swansea Magistrates? Court on Saturday 4th January, where he was further remanded to appear before Swansea Crown Court on 7th February. He was also arrested on suspicion of drink driving and drug driving and has been released on bail for these offences. — Little Sophia pictured with her father

Undated family handout photo issued by Dyfed-Powys Police of 6-month-old Sophia Kelemen, from the Leigh, Manchester area, held by her father and with her mother and elder brother, who has died following a collision on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park in Tenby on January 2. Flaviu Naghi, aged 33, from Wigan, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without a license and without insurance. Issue date: Monday January 6, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story POLICE Tenby. Photo credit should read: Family Handout/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. — Little Sophie with her parents and elder brother (Picture: Family Handout/PA Wire)

Her family, who are from Romania, is now hoping to repatriate little Sophia’s body back to their homeland.

A fundraiser launched by their friends is looking to get £6,670 to bring her back to their extended family for the funeral.

Adriana, who set up the fundraiser, told the Manchester Evening News: ‘She really wanted to walk, and was really excited, playful and energetic. She was the cutest and most adorable girl, who had just started babbling.

‘It’s horrible we didn’t get the chance to see her grow up or make memories with her.

‘We are all originally from Romania. Sophia was born here and lived in Leigh, but for closure my brother has decided to bury her there because of our roots.

‘They haven’t asked anyone for help. Nothing will bring her back, but I have decided to do this to try and help.

‘They’re trying to grieve and mourn the loss of their child while taking care of her brother, who has seen everything. This isn’t something anyone can prepare for or foresee.’

A spokesperson from Dyfed-Powys Police said: ‘Sadly, we can confirm that a 6-month-old baby girl has died following a collision on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park in Tenby on January 2.

‘Sophia Kelemen, from the Leigh, Manchester area, was taken to hospital but died of her injuries on January 3.