Melanie Stoddart was crossing the road with her three year old son Jared When a lorry crashed into a car, forcing the car off the road and into her son Jared

Rainham mum’s road safety plea after son is hurt in crash

by Lee-Ann Richards, Reporter Thursday, February 21, 2013
6:00 PM

A three-year-old boy suffered two broken legs and a fractured shoulder after he was involved in a road accident involving a lorry and a car.

Melanie Stoddart’s son, Jared, was dragged under the car near a zebra crossing in Rainham Road, Rainham, at 12.10pm earlier this month.

Melanie, of Rainham, said: “I didn’t think that he would make it, the doctors still can’t believe that he is all right, They have said that he is lucky to be alive.”

She had picked up Jared and his twin sister, Jade, from Little Rascals Pre-school, in Ford Lane. She said she got to the middle of the pedestrian crossing when she had to go back to the pavement because she was worried about oncoming traffic.

It is believed a lorry then crashed into the car, forcing the driver off the road and onto the pavement and into Jared.

Melanie is calling for a pelican crossing and parents at nearby Whybridge School have launched a petition for one.

She said: “The only thing that can stop something like this happening is if there is a pelican crossing [which has traffic lights] because then the drivers will be forced to stop.”

Cllr Barry Tebbutt, cabinet member for StreetCare, said: “We are very sorry to hear about this accident and understand that it’s being investigated by the police.

“Although we’ve had no previous reports about this crossing presenting any safety risks, we will see if any additional changes need to be made.”