Family hit on pedestrian crossing

A father and his two young children were lucky not to be killed when they were hit by a car while on a pedestrian crossing and a cyclist is in a critical condition following a busy weekend for the emergency services.

They also dealt with a two-car crash near Inglewood and a robbery at a South Taranaki liquor store.

Police said the family had been using the crossing on St Aubyn St on Saturday afternoon when the crash happened about 2.55pm.

Constable Mike Mathews said a father and his two young children, aged 2 and 7, were taken to Taranaki Base Hospital with moderate injuries. He believed along with scrapes and grazing, one of the children had suffered a broken collarbone.

A Taranaki District Health Board spokeswoman confirmed the three patients had been admitted and were in a stable condition.

Mathews said the cause of the accident was being investigated.

‘‘It’s extremely fortunate they wer not killed,’’ a police spokesman said yesterday.

He urged drivers to watch their speed, wear their seatbelts and ‘‘be aware of their surroundings’’.

Meanwhile, a cyclist is in a critical condition after a crash near a South Taranaki roundabout yesterday morning.

A police communications spokeswoman said the cyclist had been flown to Taranaki Base Hospital following the crash with another vehicle at the Glover and Waihi Rd roundabout in Hawera.

The stretch of road is part of State Highway 3.

She said the crash happened about 11.20am and the Serious Crash Unit were sent to the scene.

A St John ambulance spokeswoman said two other people involved in the crash were transported to Hawera Hospital with minor injuries.

In another weekend accident, two people were left with ‘‘moderate injuries’’ when two cars crashed near Inglewood at Saturday lunchtime.

The crash occurred on State Highway 3 Junction Rd, south of Egmont Village, about 12.20pm.

Police said two people, one from each car, had moderate injuries and were taken to hospital.

Police were also called to Black Bull Liquor on High Street, Hawera on Saturday afternoon after two offenders entered the store about 4.30pm and made off with alcohol and tobacco. No weapons were believed to be involved and no-one was hurt.