A GIRL was ‘catapulted 20 metres down the road’ after being struck by a taxi on a zebra crossing.

The incident happened at the crossing in Blackburn Road, Oswaldtwistle, which has been the subject of two petitions by residents who claim it is dangerous.

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A witness described seeing the girl flung into the air following the collision which happened at around 7.40am yesterday..

They said the girl, 16, had been struck by a silver Vauxhall Vectra cab while crossing the road.

She was conscious at the scene, and was taken by ambulance to Royal Blackburn Hospital with suspected hip and head injuries.

The driver of the taxi, who was questioned by police, stayed at the scene.

The road was closed for around 45 minutes as the teen was attended to and for police inquiries, causing rush hour traffic to back up significantly in both directions.

Residents and businesses have been campaigning to convert the crossing into a button operated traffic light crossing after concerns about safety.

Kelly Law, 38, owner of Yummies Sandwich Bar which overlooks the crossing, said: “I was just doing my counter display when I heard a loud bang at the crossing and saw the girl thrown into the air.

“The taxi was travelling from the Blackburn direction.

“I went out to her along with another man who was walking past.

“The poor girl had landed at least 20 metres away from the crossing and was lying on her side.

“I phoned an ambulance and luckily a police van passed and police officers stopped and took control.”

Mrs Law said that she had seen numerous near misses at the zebra crossing.

She said: “Often drivers just whizz past and ignore people trying to cross.

“I’ve only had this business since March but myself and the other staff here have seen several near misses.

“As it’s a long straight road I think it would be more suitable to have a button operated traffic light crossing.”

Lee Carter, who lives in West End, has run Lee’s Barbers from premises in Blackburn Road for the past 18 years.

He said: “Over the last six or seven years the residents and businesses have put more than one petition to the county council and police about that crossing.

“We think it needs a pelican traffic light type crossing.

“The response we got was that there had been no fatalities at that point of the road and nothing got done.”

Ward and county councillor Peter Britcliffe said that he supported anything that would make the road safer.

He said: “I can’t comment on this particular incident but I’ve been writing to the highways department about safety on Blackburn Road for years.

“After the Old Mother Redcap the road goes up to 50mph but then the speed limit reduces to 30mph as you enter West End.

“I think there should be more enforcement in the shape of a speed camera and improvement to the crossing.”

Dwayne Lowe, area highways manager for Lancashire County Council, said: “I’m very sorry to hear of this incident and wish the girl well with her recovery.

“We’ll discuss the circumstances of this incident with the police at the next of our regular meetings to consider whether we could reasonably take action to prevent a similar incident in future.”