UPDATE: Council to investigate bus stop following crash

Police and paramedics were called to the B2159 Storrington Road, in Thakeham, at about 7.45am after an 11-year-old girl and a van collided near the Abingworth development.

The Air Ambulance also attended and flew the girl to St George’s Hospital, in Tooting, London, where she is currently being treated for serious head injuries. No-one else was hurt.

A concerned resident described the location of the stop as ‘an accident waiting to happen’, raising safety concerns about the road.

A spokesman for West Sussex County Council said: “Our thoughts are with the young girl and her friends and family. We are offering support to the girl’s school including any pupils affected by this regrettable incident.

“We take the issue of road safety on our county’s roads extremely seriously. Police are investigating the cause and we will also be conducting our own separate investigation. This will include reviewing any previous correspondence with residents.”

The resident said several crashes had taken place along the stretch of road within the past few years.

However, the council said there had been one recorded injury accident in the last five years.

“This was in January 2016 and involved a driver losing control on an icy road surface,” they added.

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