A 22-YEAR-OLD woman suffered serious injuries after being involved in a collision with a car on a zebra crossing outside Twynham School this afternoon.

The student, who was volunteering at the Christchurch school, was taken to Southampton General Hospital with what police described as “a significant lower body injury”.

The driver of the car, an 18-year-old man, was today helping officers with their inquiries. No arrests had been made.

Sgt Stuart Pitman, from Dorset Police’s Traffic Unit, said: “Police were called to a collision between a red Citroen Saxo coming from the direction of Christchurch town centre and a 22-year-old local female pedestrian outside Twynham School on Sopers Lane.

“As a result the 22-year-old has sustained very serious injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening.

“She was taken by ambulance to Southampton General hospital and her family have been notified.”

Bournemouth Echo:

A spokesman from the South Western Ambulance Service said the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance landed on the school field but was not required to transport the casualty, who was instead taken to hospital by land ambulance.

Police cordoned off the road for several hours while officers investigated the scene.

The road remained closed at the end of the school day with parents and bus drivers being told to collect pupils from Stour Road at the back of the school.

Dr Terry Fish, head teacher at Twynham School, said the injured student was visiting the school.

The driver of the car was not a pupil at the school, he added.

Dr Fish said: “It’s devastating when any young adult is injured outside the school, but the emergency services were brilliant.They were very quick and they were brilliant with the girl.”

Alison Hogan, who was in the area shopping at the time of the collision, said emergency services flooded to the area.

The 48-year-old said: “We came out of the car park and heard the ambulance and the police cars and then they closed off the road. They told us what happened.We were really shocked.”

Sgt Pitman urged anyone who witnessed the collision or the car beforehand to come forward.

He said: “I am appealing to any witnesses to the collision or the manner of driving of the Saxo just before the collision to please call me on 101.” Anyone with information should call 101 quoting incident number 14:213.