OAP injured in hit-and-run days before pedestrian crossing talks

POLICE are continuing inquiries today after an 85-year old woman was badly hurt in a hit and run.

She was left by the roadside with serious injuries in Morningside Grove on Friday night.

Police have been able to interview her in hospital as they seek to trace the driver who fled from the scene.

Today, the Evening News can reveal the accident happened just days before a meeting was due to be held to discuss the installation of a pedestrian crossing at the spot.

The woman had just disembarked from a number 23 bus shortly after 6pm on Friday evening when she was struck by a passing car. She had been attempting to cross the road to her home within the Craiglea Place Sheltered Housing Complex.

Emergency services raced to the spot and she was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary suffering from serious injuries.

Residents have long campaigned for a pedestrian crossing to be installed at the site, just south of the junction with Craiglea Place and a meeting had already been scheduled to take place this Thursday on the matter, attended by campaigners and council transport officials.

Betty Barber, who is secretary of the complex’s proprietors’ association, told how residents have tried for over three years to have a crossing fitted.

She said: “It is so unfortunate that this has happened but it really does reinforce our case to have a crossing installed. It was only a matter of time before someone was hurt. “The road is a rat run and is very dangerous, cars just zip along. There are alot of youing children in the area too not just elderly residents.

“We are situated just after the crest of the hill so drivers are blind to whoever is crossing the road until they are right on top of them. It’s very dangerous and we’ve been saying so for years.”

She added: “It’s terrible to think that this lady was seriously injured and the driver didn’t even stop. I hope the police catch whoever did this.”

Thursday’s upcoming meeting between residents and city transport officials witll take place within Craiglea Place and has been organised by local councillor Mark McInnes. He said: “I’m desperately sorry to hear of this hit and run and my thoughts are with this woman and her family but this is something that myself and the residents have been campaigning about for some time.

“This is a very busy route for a residential street and it would benefit greatly from a pedestrian crossing.

“The transport officials will see and no doubt loudly hear the case for this on Thursday.”

A police spokeswoman said: “We are in the early stages of our investigation, and we would appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward. The woman is being treated in hospital for serious injuries.”