Teen out of coma but can't recall crash

Sheetal Chand. Photo / Supplied

The teenage girl struck by a bus on her way to school is out of her coma, but does not remember anything about the crash.

Rakesh Chand, father of 15-year-old Sheetal Chand, was thrilled when his eldest child woke up on Friday night.

"Everybody is so relieved. She is talking a bit and remembering things and recognising people," he said.

It is more than two weeks since the crash on Penrose Rd in Mt Wellington that critically injured the Auckland Girls' Grammar School student.

Police yesterday charged the 46-year-old bus driver with dangerous driving causing injury.

He is due to appear in Auckland District Court on August 25 and has been stood down by NZ Bus while the court process takes place.

Sheetal's parents have stayed at her bedside since the crash and dozens of school friends, staff and relatives have visited the hospital daily.

Mr Chand said it was still too soon to know if her brain was damaged.

"The doctors say the outside [of her body] will heal quickly, but the brain injury will take a long time to heal."

He said doctors had begun testing Sheetal's short-term memory by showing her pictures and then quizzing her on them the following day.

She was oblivious to the crash that put her in hospital, he said.

"We are not mentioning it to her yet and the last thing we want to do is get her brain overactive. We don't want too much stimulation in her brain."

Mr Chand said his daughter was speaking and then using a book to write in when she became too tired.

He understood that some of her schoolmates were dedicating a dance to her at a "Bollywood" dance competition this weekend.