Crossing at Shropshire collision site is welcomed

Seventeen-year-old Grace Currie had to be resuscitated twice at the scene when she was hit by a car in Shrewsbury Road in Baschurch – something mum Lorraine said may never have happened had their been a zebra crossing in place.

The teenager suffered serious head injuries and spent six weeks in a coma before months of recovery in a neuro special care ward and a rehabilitation unit.

But parents Lorraine and Graeme have welcomed new plans that could see a zebra crossing put in place at "virtually the exact spot" their daughter was hit.

"Of course we do think it is a great idea," 58-year-old Mrs Currie said.

"From our perspective it is a fantastic idea, it is possible that with a zebra crossing there, Grace's accident might not have happened. In our case the driver was doing about 30, so of course it wasn't illegal but you might say it was fast with the school there.

"If there had been a crossing there it would have made a driver alert to that."

Grace was a lower sixth form pupil at college in Shrewsbury. She was left in a critical condition after the accident in 2010. The collision happened near the Admiral Duncan Pub when she was walking towards Shrewsbury. It is thought she had attempted to cross the road when hit by a silver Suzuki Wagon R+ Estate travelling in the same direction.

Last week, Shropshire Council revealed proposals to create a zebra pedestrian crossing along the same stretch of road, within metres of where the accident happened.

The plans say it would be "approximately 30 metres south of its junction with Eyton Lane" and people are invited to give feedback on the idea.

Mrs Currie said: "It is busy. It is a little village road on the one hand, which is why in some ways it does look as if Grace's case was a freak accident. But it is very busy at peak times.

"We were overjoyed when we knew plans had gone in. I think anything that can be done is great."

Long-time friend Netty Brook now cares for Grace and added that she too thinks it would be an improvement to the busy road. She said: "I think it is a great idea. Anything to stop something like that happening again is a good idea in my eyes."

Approaching her 22nd birthday, Grace has been progressing and in 2012 she won the Courage Award in The Shropshire Awards for her amazing recovery. She has just finished a year at Shropshire College for Arts and Technology and is looking forward to another studying photography.

Mrs Currie said: "She is doing really well. She is always improving and she is such a resilient character she has shown so much improvement."

People have been asked to give views on the plan before August 6. Visit new.shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved/