Anger as mum and daughter injured in hit-and-run

AN eight-year-old girl and her mother were injured in a shocking hit-and-run in east Belfast last night.

At around 7.55pm, a small black car struck them as they were using a pelican crossing at the junction of the Newtownards Road and Belvoir Street.

The driver failed to stop and left both victims injured on the road.

John McPoland from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said a crew was dispatched to the scene by 8.20pm, with a second arriving at around 9.45pm to take them for further treatment in hospital.

It’s understood the mother and daughter sustained leg injuries which were not thought to be life threatening.

PUP councillor for Titanic, Dr John Kyle, called the incident “absolutely shocking”.

“I’m very concerned for the mum and eight-year-old daughter and would encourage anyone who saw anything, such as a dark car speeding round the area, to contact police,” he said.

“Any accident is terrible, but so much more when the driver of the vehicle chooses not to stop.

“That is a straight and very busy road situated near a number of shops and the Skainos Community Centre, but I would say it’s perhaps not the best lit street in Belfast.”

Urging caution to other drivers in the city he added: “This underlines how in these dark evenings we should take extra care not to speed or drive recklessly in residential areas.”

Commenting on the PSNI’s east Belfast Facebook page, local residents expressed their disbelief at the distressing crash.

One woman said she had almost been hit three times by passing vehicles at the crossing in 2017 alone.

“Seems drivers don’t slow down when approaching a zebra crossing,” she said.

Another commented: “Roads and drivers are getting worse.

“Scares me at times when I am with my daughter both in the car and as a pedestrian.

“Hopefully they are up and about soon.”

Police have appealed for witnesses to contact 101, quoting the reference number 1147 for January 10, 2018.