A MOTHER today described the terrifying moment she saw a stolen car mow down two young girls.
Laura Brade and her friend Sarah O’Brien today told how they screamed in horror as they watched the car flee the scene –leaving one of the schoolgirls lying in the road.
The collision happened as the two 11-year-old girls crossed Macauley Avenue, Marton, at around 4.30pm on Friday.
Both girls were taken to hospital after suffering cuts and bruises.
Laura, 26, from Marton, told The Gazette: “We were just about to cross Hawes Side Lane, I turned around to check the traffic because it was busy and I saw two girls rolling over a car bonnet.
“We heard the bang of it but didn’t hear tyres screech or anything, then we saw a silver car driving off.
“One girl got up but the other was just lying there. It was scary.”
Mum Sarah, 33, from South Shore, added: “I saw the front of a silver car hit the two girls.
“We ran over and the car drove away, it just didn’t stop.
“It was shocking but I think our maternal instinct kicked in to just help the girls. I felt so mad, we were screaming after the car but it carried on.”
The silver Rover hatchback had been stolen earlier that day, and was later found abandoned by police.
Laura and Sarah rushed to the girls’ aid and called for and ambulance, while a man who had also witnessed the accident directed traffic away from the scene.
Laura, who works in a nursing home, said: “The girl on the road was just panicking, she didn’t know where she was or what had happened, the other girl was just crying – she was hysterical.
“They must have been half way across crossing the road when the car hit them. They were right in the middle of the road.”
Student Sarah added: “The road was jam packed with traffic, the girls were old enough to know how to cross the road, they hadn’t done anything wrong.”
Both girls were taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital but were discharged later the same day. A police investigation has now been launched, and officers are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward.
Det Sgt Steve Colman, of Blackpool CID, said: “The two girls were knocked down by a stolen car while crossing the road at the junction of Macauley Avenue and Hawes Side Lane. The car drove off and left the children in the road.
“One girl went onto the bonnet and hit her head and they both suffered minor bruising and grazing. They are shaken up but not seriously injured.”
Both Sarah and Laura visited the girls at home over the weekend, and said they were making a good recovery.
The car, a silver three-door hatchback Rover, had been stolen from Barclay Avenue, Marton earlier that day.
Two men, aged 20 and 22, from Marton, were arrested shortly after the incident and later released on police bail pending further inquiries.
Det Sgt Colman added: “This is a serious incident and we are appealing for the public’s help.
“Anybody who witnessed the accident and is aware of the identity of those involved, we would implore them to come forward.”
Click here to read how The Gazette broke the story: