Girl of 10 injured in accident with van

A 10-year-old girl from Walsall suffered head injuries after she was knocked down by a van in Bloxwich during rush hour.

The youngster was struck by the Transit van in Bell Lane, off Bloxwich High Street, yesterday at about 8am, and was taken to Walsall Manor Hospital with a suspected fractured skull.

Police spokeswoman Sarah Astbury said scans revealed that although her injuries were severe, they were not life-threatening and she did not have any broken bones.

She said: "The van driver stopped at the scene. Police closed one lane of the road, which may have affected traffic on the High Street."

West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Steve Parry said: "The patient was immobilised with the use of a neck collar and placed on a spinal board as a precaution before being taken to Walsall Manor Hospital.

"The hospital was pre-alerted to the condition of the patient."