Four-year-old knocked down

A councillor has called for a 20mph speed limit in estates after a four-year-old boy was knocked down at Lawnmout Crescent on Friday evening.

Jenny Palmer said that though speed was not an issue in this case but lowering the speed limit in housing developments from 30mph would help save lives.

She has asked Lisburn City Council to write to the Environment Minister Mark Durkan about the issue.

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The accident occurred around 5.50pm at Lawnmount Crescent. The boy who was taken to hospital and is now thought to be recovering well.

The child’s mother logged onto the Star Facebook with a message “Just to let everyone know he is recovering well. He was a very lucky little boy!”

Police say the boy was taken to hospital for treatment with a head injury which was not believed to be life threatening. It is believed that the boy suffered a gash as well as cuts and bruises.

The female driver of the car was initially arrested but was later released unconditionally.

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Sources say that the boy, who had only moved into the area a short time, had been out playing with friends on his scooter when he was struck as he came out from two parked cars.

Ironically, Mrs Palmer herself was four years of age when she too was knocked down by a car close to where the accident happened.

She was left in a two day coma after she was struck by a vehicle as she went out for an Easter egg. She suffered a range of injuries including a broken leg, shoulder, fractured skull, and left with cuts and bruises. She had also to undergo plastic surgery and spent six weeks recovering from her injuries at both the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald and the Royal Victoria Hospital.

She said that the scene on Friday evening was particularly shocking for other children to witness.

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Mrs Palmer said, “Anyone driving through a development is well within their rights to drive at 30mph, I certainly would not be driving at that speed sowould be keen to lower the speed limit to 20mph.

“What chance does a wee person have if he is struck by a vehicle at 30mph or more? Injuries are more likely to be life threatening.

“There is forever traffic in Lawnmount Crescent. I counted cars parked in that part of the road where it happened. It is easy for any child to be struck by a vehicle - it happened to me when I was four. Accidents happen in a flash.”

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