"Cowardly" hit-and-run driver mows down schoolgirl in Tadworth

The 13-year-old Beacon School pupil was thrown into the air by a black 4x4 as she crossed Tattenham Way, Tadworth, on her way home from school at about 3.15pm on Thursday.

Grandmother Christine, 58, who rushed to the scene at the traffic lights by Reigate Road, said: "I’m going to do my darnedest to find them. You don’t leave a dog lying in the road, let alone a child.

"She could have been killed."

The accident was particularly terrifying because last month she had a premonition something bad would happen to Chelsie.

She told the Epsom Guardian that in her premonition: "I saw her flying through the air and being injured. Unfortunately, it did happen."

Fortunately, although Chelsie's elbow was cut "practically to the bone" and she had skinned her back, she has not sustained lasting physical damage.

She was taken to Epsom Hospital for medical checks.

Describing the scene when she arrived, Christine said: "Somebody had moved her and she was sitting on the wall surrounded by police, pupils and paramedics.

"I’m very angry with the driver. To think they would leave my 13-year-old granddaughter lying in the road and drive off.

"The driver is a coward and should face up to their responsibility. I want to prick his or her conscience."

Grandmother Christine, Chelsie and mother Jessica

She said that the wing mirror of the 4x4, believed to be a truck back, came off during the crash. She said: "Somebody must know this black vehicle that had just one wing mirror.

Chelsie's grandmother, who lives in Nork, said she phoned the police in order to arrange for someone to speak with Chelsie, who already had confidence issues.

She said: "She said she was never going to school again and didn’t want to go outside. She needed somebody in authority to talk to her. They won round her confidence.

"She’s not going to school today because she is still very sore." Chelsie's grandmother thanked everyone who helped her granddaughter and gave witness statements on Thursday, adding: "The pupils acted in a very mature, level-headed way."

A spokesman at South East Coast Surrey Ambulance Service said an ambulance and two cars with paramedics were sent to the traffic lights near Asda in Burgh Heath.

He said: "A teenage girl was treated at the scene before being taken to Epsom General Hospital."

A Surrey Police spokesman said: "Officers are appealing for witnesses in tracing the vehicle which failed to stop following the incident and travelled down Great Tattenhams towards Epsom Downs.

"It is described as a black Mitsubishi L200 pickup truck which had silver or white sign writing on it. The driver is described as a white male, approximately 30 years of age with a bald head.

"The vehicle’s offside wing mirror was knocked off and there was also possible damage to its bumper."

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting the reference number P14140905.