Mum’s shock after baby daughter hit by van in Southampton Road

Louise Iskander, her 22-month-old daughter Maigan and friend Jade Kavannah were injured in the collision on Southampton Road. Picture: LOUISE ISKANDER (Image: Archant)

Louise feared the worst after she noticed a white transit van heading straight towards them on Southampton Road last Thursday.

“I said to Jade it didn’t look like it was going to stop. We were half way across,” Louise said.

In a desperate attempt to save her daughter, Louise pushed the pram carrying Maigan towards the pavement, but all three were hit.

In front of dozens of shocked parents picking up their children from school, Louise rushed over to find the back of the pram on its side under the van and Maigan’s head on the ground.

Witnesses later told the 32-year-old – who lives near the scene – that they saw the pram fly into the air, hit the van then fall to the ground.

Police and paramedics were called to the scene at about 3.10pm before all three were rushed to St Mary’s Hospital where Louise and Maigan were kept in overnight suffering cuts, grazes and bruises.

“The hospital said the pram had saved her life. They said if she had been in my arms or walking she would be dead,” Louise said.

“Right now I’ve got a lot of adrenalin running through me. I don’t want to leave the house. I feel angry we’re living through this,” she added.

According to Louise, since the accident Jade has also found it hard to leave the house and was unable to cross the same road with her children on the way to school today.

“We’ve been feeling grateful we’re alive, but the minute we heard the news the driver was still allowed to drive it just made us feel anxious, disappointed and upset,” Louise said.

Police have confirmed a 55-year-old man has been reported for careless driving though no charge or arrest has been made.