Road Traffic Incident

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a road traffic incident which left a 12-year-old girl seriously injured.

The girl was knocked down by a car while crossing a busy road in Walsall, West Midlands. She suffered head injuries and was taken to Walsall Manor Hospital where her condition was later described as critical but stable.

The 35-year-old female driver of the Ford Focus was treated for shock. Police closed off part of the road to carry out investigations.

A local resident told the Express and Star newspaper that she believed the girl may have come out from behind a parked car.

"I didn't hear anything but then I saw lots of people gathering outside," Vicky Tolley, 20, said. "I was told the girl had come out from behind a parked car and I just hope she makes a full recovery."

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Stephen Nye from law firm Irwin Mitchell said: "Although the circumstances of this accident are not yet clear, it is another unfortunate instance of a child being seriously injured on our roads. It can only be hoped that that this young girl makes a good recovery from her severe injuries. This tragedy is a reminder to all drivers of the need to take extra care in residential areas where children are likely to be around. Children do not always appreciate the dangers of the road and can be unpredictable. Drivers should keep their speed down so they are in a position to react should a child enter the road."