How the Accrington death crash horror unfolded (From Lancashire Telegraph)

How the Accrington death crash horror unfolded

11:42am Friday 12th February 2010 in Hyndburn By Catherine Pye, Reporter

Police say that Jackie Bloomer was on Eastgate in Accrington when she was hit by the green Rover 45 at 3pm on Tuesday.

30-year-old Jackie was walking from Accrington town centre with 18-month-old Jayden to pick up her eldest son Declan from nearby St John’s Primary School.

The car, driven by Alfred Ernest Wray, 89, mounted the pavement and struck Mrs Bloomer.

It then hit Jayden’s pushchair, pinning it against the corner of The Old Tannery buiding in Eastgate.

A police officer drove an ambulance to allow both paramedics to work on trying to save Jayden’s life.

Jackie was taken to hospital in a second ambulance and Mr Wray was flown by air ambulance.

Jayden and Mr Wray, who was known as Ernest, died later that afternoon at the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Jackie was transferred to Royal Preston Hospital where she remains in a critical condition.

Traffic around Accrington ground to a halt as accident scene investigators closed off roads in the town centre.

Accrington firefighters helped give CPR to the two adult casualties.

The police helicopter was scrambled to monitor the incident and take pictures of the scene.

The accident left people in the town centre in shock, with many shoppers standing in stunned silence and some crying.

A woman, who did not want to be named, said: “I only live nearby and came out when I heard the air ambulance.

“It’s shocking, absolutely horrible when you have kids of your own.”

Local resident Alan Smith: “It’s a very dangerous road.

“I’ve nearly been knocked over myself a few times.

“It’s awfully upsetting news, but you wonder how there’s not been an accident here before.”

Another resident, Gerard Gallagher, 38, said: “I didn’t think it would be as bad as this. It’s horrible to see when you have kids.”

A shopkeeper of Abbey Street, who asked not to be named, said: “People have been coming in talking about it.

“I’ve seen the car. It’s a real mess and it really hits you when you see it.

“It just shows you should never take anything for granted. It reminds you of your own mortality.”

A market trader said: “For this to happen is tragic, but seems even more so when an innocent baby dies.

“Everyone’s thoughts are going out to the family.”

Coun Paul Barton, Mayor of Hyndburn, said the news was ‘soul destroying’.

He said: “I was in town at the time and when I was going back to my car I heard all the sirens. But I never thought it would be so bad.

“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to the families of those involved.”

Coun Allah Dad said: “There is no doubt at all that this is a tragic loss of life. The community will be in shock.

“The road is busy, but with the traffic lights being so close together I don’t think you could build up a lot of speed in that stretch.”