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Brave mum’s plea for safer road crossings
LUCKY ESCAPE: Mum Leia McDonald, who is starting a campaign for safer crossings, with daughters Regan (left) and Alexa.
A Horncastle mum fears a child could be killed crossing a street in the town after her own daughter was allegedly mown down by a motorist.
Leia McDonald’s five-year-daughter Alexa suffered an horrific injury while using a pedestrian crossing in Horncastle’s Market Place in July.
Mrs McDonald and her elder daughter Regan, aged eight, were forced to look on helplessly as Alexa was struck by a car.
Speaking about the incident for the first time, Mrs McDonald described it as “the worst day of my life.”
Alexa was rushed to hospital with a badly broken leg. After ten weeks of rehabilitation, the family fear she could be left with a permanent limp.
Now, her mum is campaigning for improved crossings in Horncastle and is worried another child might not be as fortunate.
Mrs McDonald is calling on Horncastle’s MP Sir Peter Tapsell and prominent local councillors to back her.
She said: “What happened to Alexa was a nightmare, the worst day of my life.
“She could have been killed and I don’t want any other parents to have to go through what we have.
“I’ll never let my kids anywhere near that crossing again.
“What made it even worse was Regan saw everything.
“I was holding Regan’s hand and Alexa was two steps in front of us.
“There was no way Alexa could get out of the way. We were all screaming. I thought Alexa had only cut her leg but then I saw the bone poking through. “
Mrs McDonald claimed several ‘hot spots’ in Horncastle are potential death-traps for pedestrians, particularly young children.
They include Boston Road, Jubilee Way, High Street, West Street and the new roundabout on Louth Road.
Mrs McDonald added: “It is really dangerous and it’s even worse in the roadworks.
“I’ve spoken to other mums and they all feel the same.
“Someone has got to do something, It is only a matter of time before a child is killed.
“The speed cars travel at is ridiculous and some drivers don’t even stop when you’ve stepped on a crossing.
“Alexa is scared of traffic now. Every time I take them out, I’m worried something is going to happen.”
A spokesman for Horncastle Police could not confirm any details about the incident in which Alexa was injured but said enquries were continuing.
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Weather for Horncastle
Monday 20 May 2013
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Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
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