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12th April 2023
01:04pm BST
A woman suffered life-threatening head injuries after reportedly pushing a pram out of harm's way just before being struck by a car in what is being investigated as an alleged hit and run.
The woman, in her 30s, was steering a pushchair near Redhill Park in Bournemouth, Dorset, at 9am Tuesday when a Toyota RAV4 came towards them.
The vehicle hit the woman, reportedly sending her flying through the air before she landed on the road.
The Sun reported that pedestrians rushed to her aid before emergency services attended the scene.
The woman was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital with a life-threatening head injury, Dorset Police said in a statement.
"The baby was taken to hospital as a precaution, but did not sustain any injuries," the force added.
Photos taken after the incident show a pram on the roadside, The Sun reported.
Dorset Police alleged the driver, a 38-year-old man from the New Milton area in Hampshire, did not stop at the scene.
He has since been arrested on suspicion of driving offences.
Police have not said if the injured woman is the baby's mother.
Police Sergeant Richard Stroud, of the road traffic unit, said: "We are investigating the circumstances of this collision and I am appealing to anyone who was travelling in the area at the time and either witnessed the collision or captured it on dashcam to please contact Dorset Police.
"I would like to thank motorists for their patience while the road closure was in place so we could carry out our investigation."
A witness to the accident, Tracey Howe, told The Sun she saw the pedestrian being hit.
"She was crossing the road near the crossing by the park, the lights were changing to red so the car should have been slowing down.
"It all happened really fast, it was horrible. I heard a noise and turned to see it.
"I think she made contact with the front of the car but didn't hit the windscreen and the car just zoomed off.
"I saw who I assume could have been the grandmother running towards the baby. It looked about 18 months old."
Howe was driving at the time and said she wasn't able to pull over and stop, but added that "lots of pedestrians" rushed to assist.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Dorset Police on 101 quoting number 11:111, or Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555 111.
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