This Is Guernsey

By Nigel Baudains

A damaged buggy at the accident scene where a Mini ran into a mother and two young children. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0562312)

A MOTHER and two small children were hit by a car yesterday as they walked along the coast near Grandes Rocques.

The woman, 24, who was pushing a buggy, suffered a serious leg injury while her 18-month-old daughter had a head injury. A young boy was unhurt.

The Ambulance and Rescue Service was called at 1.22pm to Rue de la Saline, just north of the Route de la Mare de Carteret junction.

Police interviewed an elderly man who had been driving the car involved, a red Mini, at the scene. He declined to comment to the Guernsey Press.

A woman who lives nearby said she had been taking shopping from her car when she heard the incident.

‘There was a dull bang,’ she said. ‘I didn’t think a person could have been hit because it was too loud.

‘Two cars were stopped near the slipway. One was a Mini and the driver of the Mini was shouting.

‘I presumed they had collided and were having an altercation.’

When the woman came back to get more shopping from her car, several vehicles had stopped and a woman was sitting on the pavement with her back to the wall. One of the drivers had a first aid kit and was helping her.

‘She had a head injury that was bleeding,’ said the neighbour.

‘She seemed dazed but she was still conscious.

‘One of her trainers had come off and there was blood around her sock.’

One of the drivers was holding the young girl, who was crying.

‘She had a bump on her forehead and grazes,’ said the neighbour.

‘I think it was more because her mum was unable to hold her.’

A boy aged about three was sitting on the sea wall and the neighbour gave him some chocolate.

Another woman said she had been in the car park near the pumping station when the red Mini had come in through the out gate.

‘There was only one man in it,’ she said. ‘He sort of turned around and drove back out, turning right, but I didn’t see what happened after that.’

A scene-of-crime officer arrived shortly after the woman and her children had been taken to hospital by ambulance.

* Police are appealing for witnesses, who should call 725111.