Four-year-old cycle hit and run victim almost hit again in Bognor Regis for the second time in a week

Abigail Murray had only been out of hospital for a few days after being treated for a fractured skull when she came face to face with another cyclist on a footpath.

Her dad, Stewart Murray (30), said Abigail was being taken out by a family friend when they came across the grown man close to the junction of Nyewood Lane and Sylvan Way.

"Abigail was in a buggy for the first time in two years because we have been told to be very careful with her.

"They had just rounded a corner when this young Polish lad went round the corner very quickly and stopped inches away from Abigail.

"He just shrugged his shoulders, gave her a mouthful and rode away. If he had hit Abigail, I dread to think what would have happened," he explained.

The second incident occurred on Monday, June 23. Six days earlier, Abigail had suffered serious injuries when a teenage rider collided with her in Aldwick Road.

Mr Murray said: "Something has to be done about these cyclists. They have to be made to realise that riding a bike on the pavement is a pretty dangerous thing to do.

"My wife and I were in the town centre the other day and saw a sign which says dropping a fag butt in the street will bring a 60 fine.

"Yet you get nothing for nearly killing a child on the pavement."

Abigail's first accident occurred at about 4.30pm on Tuesday, June 17.

She had just crossed Aldwick Road with her mum, Donna (28) and her sisters, Chloe (11) and Imogen (18 months).

They were on their way from the family friend's house in Elfin Grove where they are staying away from their Scottish home to look at the rabbits in Aldwick Pets.

"Abigail stepped forward because she wanted to get to the shop," naval engineer Mr Murray said.

"You don't step from a road on to a pavement and expect to get run over by a bike.

"You always tell your kids to be careful crossing the road and to stop, look and listen, but you don't expect the pavements to be more dangerous."

He claims Abigail was thrown into the air by the force of the collision and landed on the pavement on her head.

Mrs Murray began screaming and a crowd soon gathered. Paramedics took Abigail to St Richard's Hospital.

Scans revealed she had a fractured skull above her left eye. She also had a blood leak between her skull and her meninges.

A further scan after she failed to improve showed the even more worrying situation of a further blood leak through her meninges into her brain.

Doctors at Southampton General Hospital's neurological unit were put on standby to receive Abigail after they had assessed her scans.

But her condition improved enough to enable her to be treated in the A&E and intensive care departments at St Richard's.

Abigail was sick the following day but got better in the evening.

She was kept in during Thursday as a precaution before being discharged on Friday, June 20.

A doctor told Mr and Mrs Murray her injuries were consistent with a GBH attack.

She has to be treated carefully for the next month to allow her injuries to fully heal.

Mr Murray stated: "It's amazing how quickly Abigail has recovered. I can't believe it. Her bruising and black eye look horrible but that is only superficial.

"But she has been so lucky. It will not be long before a cyclist on a pavement causes a really serious accident and who knows how many near misses there have been."

"There must be some sort of sanction for those who cycle on the pavement."

n A 15-year-old boy from the Bognor area walked into the town's police station last Thursday to help the police with their inquiries into the Aldwick Road accident.

A Sussex Police spokesman said this week that no decision had yet been made about any possible charges. Witnesses to the accident were still being interviewed.

What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP

What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP