Devizes teenager in hit an run incident tells of her ordeal
8:00am Thursday 7th March 2013 in News
Romany Wakefield, 14, who was hit by a car yesterday morning
Police are appealing for information after the driver of a car which hit schoolgirl Romany Wakefield failed to stop.
Romany, 14, was crossing Southbroom Road, Devizes, on her way to Devizes School yesterday morning when a car hit her.
Romany was using the pedestrian crossing but the traffic lights were out of action due to roadworks.
The car collided with her after it had pulled out of Hare and Hounds Street and turned north into Southbroom Road.
A man walking his dog tried to stop the car from leaving the scene but it drove off.
Romany managed to walk to Devizes School where a member of staff called an ambulance and she was taken to Trowbridge Hospital where she had an X-ray.
Romany’s mother, Jean Wakefield, was called at home and she followed the ambulance to hospital in her car.
Romany spent several hours at the hospital before returning home to John Rennie Close, Devizes, yesterday afternoon.
She suffered swelling and bruising to her right ankle and has been given crutches to use and painkillers.
Romany told the Gazette: “I was with one of my friends crossing the road when a car drove over my feet. The car didn’t stop. It was very painful but I managed to hobble to school.”
Romany wished to thank the dog walker for trying to stop the driver leaving the scene.
Her mum said: “It just goes to show that at school times drivers should be more vigilant especially when traffic lights are not working. It could have been a lot worse in Romany’s case.”
Malcolm Irons, headteacher at Devizes School, said: “I can’t believe this driver didn’t know something untoward had happened and at least they could have stopped and enquired.”
The car that hit Romany is described as a small blue Jeep-type vehicle.
PC Paul Johnson said: “The car stopped briefly but then drove off in the direction of the roundabout at Devizes Green. We are seeking to identify the car and its driver, believed to be male. I believe a number of people were present at the time of the collision, notably a man walking a small white dog who attempted to wave the car down as it drove off.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Wiltshire Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
