A DRIVER who ran a red light and hit a toddler as she was crossing the road with her family will be sentenced next week.

Three-year-old Elia Pedron suffered life-threatening injuries and spent 16 days in an induced coma after she was hit by a car outside Balaclava State School on January 16 last year.

Yesterday, driver Adam Anthony Geering, 36, appeared in Cairns District Court after pleading guilty to one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing grievous bodily harm.

Prosecutor Jodie Wooldridge said Elia had recovered but was having regular tests to check for permanent brain damage.

Ms Wooldridge said the traffic lights would have been red for at least three seconds before the family started crossing the road and the child was 6m from the curb when she was struck.

"The light was red long enough for two other vehicles to ascertain that the defendant was not going to stop."

She said Geering was unaware of the red light, the slowing vehicles and the family of five crossing the road, indicating more than a momentary lapse in concentration.

Defence barrister Jim Henry ,SC, said his client simply failed to notice what was in front of him.

"He has struggled since the accident to try to establish what happened in those seconds," he said.

Mr Henry said Geering, who has two young children of his own, tried to help the injured girl but her mother yelled at him, so he stayed away.

"This is not a situation where my client doesn't understand the gravity of what's happened."

Geering was remanded in custody and will be sentenced by Judge Kerry O'Brien on Wednesday.

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