A RISHTON councillor is calling for further speed cuts on a death-trap road after a 12-year-old girl was left fighting for her life after being involved in an accident with a family car.
The 12-year-old girl was crossing Wilpshire Road near the junction of Lee Lane, Rishton, shortly after 3.20pm last Friday when she was in collision with a Ford Galaxy people carrier.
The girl, who has not been named by police, was said at first to be critical with head and leg injuries and was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital.
She was transferred to Pendlebury Children’s Hospital in Manchester for specialist treatment and intensive care.
Rishton ward councillor Harry Grayson said: “I think further safety measures need to be put in place on Wilpshire Road.
“Any form of accident there is one too many, as it can easily be avoided. The speed restriction should definitely be looked at again because people fly past there. I am surprised more accidents haven’t happened.
“The speed limit was cut from 50mph to 40mph and in my opinion it should be reduced even further to 30mph.”
Kath Thacker, volunteer and activity co-ordinator at Lord’s House Farm, which is close to where the accident happened, said: “I think people should use this incident as a wake-up call to take notice of the speed limit.
“It has been reduced to 40mph to prevent accidents like this, but people just ignore it. Stupid people fly down the hill at a rate of knots taking very little care. I am very surprised something like this hasn’t happened sooner.”
A police spokesman said later this week: “The girl has been moved out of intensive care and seems to be doing well. Her condition is stable but she is being kept in hospital for further tests.”
