Neighbours speak of shock and upset as four-year-old boy fights for life after being hit by taxi

Neighbours have spoken of their shock and upset after a four-year-old boy was hit by a taxi leaving him fighting for his life.

The youngster was hit outside his house in Cotswold Avenue, Pallister Park, Middlesbrough at 5.20pm yesterday.

He suffered head and internal injuries and is currently in a critical condition at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

Residents said the accident “shook the street”.

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One neighbour said: “It happened just outside my house. It was just awful. I didn’t see it happen but I went out afterwards and the street was filled with people. Everyone was so worried.

“There was an ice cream van there at the time.”

The taxi had been travelling from the direction of Cranmore Road when the incident happened.

The neighbour added: “The police and ambulance came really quickly. The ambulance didn’t mess about at all. They picked him up, put him straight in the ambulance and went.”

Police are appealing for the driver of the ice cream van to contact them as they may have valuable information on the circumstances leading up to the collision, or even have had CCTV on board which could help.

The female neighbour added: “We are all praying for the little boy. He is in our thoughts. We were all there for him and his family yesterday.”

Another neighbour said: “This has shook the street. It’s awful and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. I really hope he is ok.”

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said: “The boy suffered serious head and internal injuries and is currently in a critical condition in the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.”

The ice cream van driver, or anyone else who witnessed the collision or the child’s movements before it happened, is asked to contact PC Amanda Stokes of the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit on the non-emergency number 101 quoting event 38489.