A TEENAGER is recovering in hospital after being hit by a bus in a busy town centre street.
The collision happened while the 16-year-old was crossing the Crescent in St Annes at around 5.30pm on Saturday, just after the town’s annual Christmas lights switch-on was attended by hundreds of people.
She suffered head injuries and a badly cut leg and was taken to Royal Preston Hospital for treatment. She is expected to undergo surgery on her leg and make a full recovery.
Police closed the road for more than three hours after the incident before the vehicle – which had a smashed windscreen – was towed away.
Just prior to the crash, the streets had been teeming with visitors who had gathered to watch stars from TV soap Hollyoaks switch on the town’s Christmas lights.
Jane Allen, of Church Road, had stayed in St Annes after the switch on and heard the accident.
She said: “We heard a noise and it was obvious something bad had happened because the bus stopped and everyone near where it had happened looked shocked.
“I was told it was a young woman who had crossed the road.
“The streets weren’t that busy at the time because the switch-on had finished an hour or so earlier but there were still plenty of people about.
“It was just one of those unfortunate accidents and I just hope she is all right.”
The girl is believed to live locally.
Police have launched an investigation.
Sgt John Jennings-Wharton said, “Anyone who may have witnessed the collision should come forward.”
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