Tan Parsons A HUNT is underway to find the hit-and-run driver who left a woman for dead three days before her 95th birthday. Ethel Hall, who has lived in Kentish Town for 25 years, miraculously escaped with just bumps and bruises after it was initially fe

Tan Parsons

A HUNT is underway to find the hit-and-run driver who left a woman for dead three days before her 95th birthday.

Ethel Hall, who has lived in Kentish Town for 25 years, miraculously escaped with just bumps and bruises after it was initially feared she had suffered serious head and spinal injuries.

She was knocked down at 2pm last Thursday, just yards from her front door as she crossed the road, and police are currently investigating and treating it as a "fail-to-stop" case.

Mrs Hall, who is covered from head to toe in bruises after the collision, spoke to the Ham&High at her Fortess Road home on Tuesday.

She said: "It bowled me over. I'm all bruises now but at least I didn't break any bones. I couldn't tell you if the driver had stopped because I didn't see anything.

"I just feel tired. It was my birthday at the weekend and I've just finished arranging my flowers and pulling out the laundry, but I feel as though I've done a full day's work."

After the collision Mrs Hall was taken by ambulance to the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead where she had X-rays and was kept in overnight.

She said: "I don't really know what happened. I know there was a green car at the end of the row of cars in the street. I looked that way and there was nothing coming, and I looked the other way and saw that the traffic lights were red. So where it came from, goodness only knows.

"I can't say I feel as I would like to do, but that's probably because of my age."

Witnesses who saw the aftermath of the accident were appalled that the driver had not stopped.

Community leader Silla Carron, who lives on the Clarence Way estate, said: "Anyone who saw anything needs to come forward to put the ball back in this lady's court and put the driver where they belong.

"If they didn't stop it's probably because they couldn't afford to get caught - they shouldn't have been behind the wheel of a car at all.

"In this day and age too many people don't have a conscience and that's something we all need to address."

Mrs Hall's neighbour Jennifer Latham, said: "I'm completely shocked that the driver did not stop. This is not normally an accident hot spot but it's quite a fast road because it's the main route from Kentish Town to Tufnell Park.

"They should consider putting some kind of speed-limiting options in the road to slow the traffic down."

Police are appealing for information and for any witnesses to come forward.

A spokesman said: "It is believed she had been in a collision with a vehicle as she crossed the road, and we are treating this as a fail-to-stop.

"Officers from the collision investigation unit at Euston would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident, and in particular with the driver of a white van which was parked near the location immediately before."

Anyone with information should call 020-7388 6806 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800-555 111.