A NINE-year-old girl is in intensive care after an accident while she was out with her scooter left her with a fractured skull.

Bethany Dibbs is rallying after spending Thursday night in a medically induced coma in the paediatric intensive care unit of Southampton Hospital.

Bethany was crossing Sandy Lane in Upton on Thursday evening with her 11-year-old sister, Charlotte, when she was involved in a collision with a red Toyota car at about 5.15pm.

Parents Stephen and Anna Dibbs have kept a vigil at their daughter’s hospital bedside.

Mr Dibbs said yesterday: “They have got her conscious again. She’s certainly responded and is now breathing on her own. It’s looking hopeful. She’s got a blood clot and a fractured skull, but the doctors aren’t as worried.”

Ambulance crews rushed Bethany to Poole Hospital with serious neck and head injuries following the accident, before she was transferred to Southampton Hospital.

“She was given a Police escort to the special unit in Southampton. My wife and I stayed with her all night,” said Mr Dibbs.

Eyewitness Hasan Simsek said the girls had visited his Premier convenience store just moments before the collision.

“I heard a big noise. I said to my friend, ‘Wait here – I’m going to have a look’. I saw a small red car stop and saw the girl on the floor.

“Her sister ran away to get her mum and dad. We called the ambulance. Five or six police cars turned up and two ambulances.

“It was a serious accident. They closed the road for about 30 or 40 minutes in both directions. I went to the shop and talked to her dad. Her mum was very shocked. We tried to help calm her down.

“Bethany and Charlotte and regular customers. They’re nice, happy kids,” he added.

Police are calling for witnesses to the collision, which happened at the junction of Blandford Road and Sandy Lane.

Anyone with information should contact Dorset Police on 01202 222222.

l The accident is the second within a week in the Blandford Road area, following a collision involving a Wilts and Dorset bus and 14-year-old Michael Baxter.

The Carter Community School student also received treatment for a fractured skull in Southampton Hospital’s paediatric intensive care unit.

Sean McCrory, Carter’s school and community manager, said Michael’s family had reported he was making a strong recovery.

Michael had given his grandparents the “thumbs-up” a day after being brought out of a medically induced coma, and had asked for food the following day, said Mr McCrory.

Students at the school had sent cards to their schoolmate, said Mr McCrory.