Two Shropshire girls hit by cars recovering
Sunday 24th October 2010, 6:00PM BST.
Two Shropshire girls being treated for head injuries in hospital after they were struck by cars in separate incidents are recovering.
Doctors treating 17-year-old Grace Currie, who suffered serious head injuries after being hit by a car as she crossed the road in Baschurch, have downgraded her condition from life-threatening after about four weeks in hospital.
Meanwhile, 11-year-old Chloe Simpson, who was airlifted to hospital with head and pelvis injuries after she was knocked down outside Lower Heath Primary School, Prees Green, near Whitchurch, on Wednesday afternoon, is also making a recovery.
Friends and family of Grace, from Bagley, near Baschurch, have been continuing their bedside vigil for the teenager ever since she was struck by a car on September 27.
Today a close family friend said the former pupil of the Corbet School in Baschurch was showing some signs of improvement, but remained in a coma.
He added: “What’s happened is that Grace’s condition is no longer considered life-threatening.
“In terms of coming out of a coma, there have been glimpses of things like eye movement, which is encouraging.
“Grace’s family are anxious that people continue to pray for her and keep her in their thoughts at this time.”
He added that her parents Graeme and Lorraine Currie say they are grateful for all the care and kindness shown by others.
Grace, who is at sixth form college in Shrewsbury, is being treated in the University Hospital North Staffordshire in Stoke-on-Trent. More than 500 people have joined a Facebook page to show their support for the teenager.
Elsewhere, Chloe, who lives in Lower Heath and attends the Thomas Adams School in Wem, is recovering well from her ordeal, her grandfather poultry farmer Alan Simpson said.
He said: “She has a broken pelvis, bad lacerations to her back and a bruised hip and elbow.
“She’s had some stitches to a cut on her head and luckily she was up and about yesterday morning so we’re hoping she will be discharged soon. She stepped out from behind a bus after getting off and she was hit so it was one of those things.
“But I would like to see us adopt the same safety rules as in the USA, where traffic can’t pass school buses as kids get on and off.”
By Tom Johannsen
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The American idea is good but will not work as too many people are to interested in dashing to work and do not give a monkeys about other road users, including buses and pedestrians.
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I sincerely hope these two girls make a full, speedy recovery.
I also agree with the point raised by Mr. Simpson regarding the overtaking of school buses while unloading. I wonder, however, if it was obvious that this was in fact a school bus. As I recall, SCC used to tender out school transport to private operators using ordinary coaches so it may not have been apparent to the car driver that it was, in fact, a school bus. Had it been so, maybe he/she would have exercised a little more caution, and this unfortunate accident may have been avoided.
For once, I would like to see some legislation on this matter, designated drop off points with signs banning overtaking a stationary bus, or, a prominent sign at the rear of the vehicle making it clear that overtaking it when stationary was an offence.
Merely suggestions, but anything that could save a child’s life must surely be worth implementing.
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My prayers go out to these young girls and their families. As a mother of 2 it is my worst nightmare.
Whilst I agree with the other points raised regarding traffic control, we must not forget that it is our duty to constantly remind children of all ages that cars will not see them until it is too late if they cross roads from behind a parked vehicle.
When I was young there were constant campaigns about the green cross code and being responsible pedestrians. Maybe the council, National groups and schools need to raise the profile of this sort of safety again. So many times I see children of senior school age wandering into the road or simply not looking adequately and as a driver it is something I am always alert to. Sadly, there are many drivers who do not think like this so please urge your children to stop look and listen and to cross where they can be seen.
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I cannot see that such a policy would be workable in this country. In the cities and towns there are constantly buses regurgitating passengers including flocks of school children and as both accidents in this case were caused by moments of absentmindedness, my heart also gos out to the drivers, who will be emotionally trautmatised for the rest of their lives too.
I am very glad both the girls are recovering well though serious accidents like these can unfortunately have longterm consequences.
I agree totally with kizzy that there should be constant reminders about road safety to youngsters. The roads are by and large safer than when I was young when there were few speed limits and car design did not take account of potential injuries inflicted on cyclists and pedestrians should there be an incident.
Speeds in built up areas must be kept low and vigilance by all road users promoted but sadly it will still not prevent that one occasion we miscalculate or are momentarily distracted.
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In the city where I live the bus route near me has been streamlined and the bus stops built out into the road. One effect of this is that drivers can’t get past any bus on that route. The idea is it gives the bus a clear run to the next stop, but I expect it also cuts down on accidents. I’m not sure how this would work in a rural area though, and when I return to Shropshire on holiday I do notice they all drive as if posessed.
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