Residents have spoken of their shock and sadness after a three-year-old boy was left seriously injured in a suspected hit and run in North Shields.
The child, who was a pedestrian, suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries on Monday just before 5.45pm after being involved in a collision with a white Ford Focus on Waterville Road near the junction with Prudhoe Street.
The driver of the vehicle was reported to have left the scene without exchanging details and before emergency services arrived.
Northumbria Police subsequently arrested a 50-year-old man on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He has now been released under investigation.
Neighbours said they were shocked to see a section of Waterville Road cordoned off and flooded with emergency services vehicles after the youngster, who has not been named, was knocked down. Robert Stewart, whose house overlooks the scene, said: "I had been at the back of the house and was about to leave with my son to go to the pictures when I saw around 10 people gathered on the pavement.
"I saw a woman cradling a little child by the side of the footpath and there was a shoe lying in the middle of the road. It was a terrible shock seeing this woman cradling the poor child. I have a granddaughter and this sort of thing really brings home to you how fragile life can be and how quickly things can change."
Mr Stewart, 74, who has lived on Waterville Road for the past 42 years, said this was the first time anything like this had happened. "You do get cars speeding along here and we're on the route back from the primary school, but there's never been anyone hit. It's terrible to think what's happened. Seeing the child being cradled like that was a real shock.
"It is so sad, and I just hope he's going to be all right and that he'll be home soon."
A woman who didn't wish to be named but whose house is further along the road from the accident site, told Chroniclelive: "I'm a mum and it's heart-breaking to think what's happened. I didn't see the accident but I did see a woman sitting on the kerb cradling a small child. There was a group around her and someone brought a blanket out of one of the houses to wrap around the child.
"There were quite a few police cars and part of the road was closed off. It didn't reopen until quite late. An ambulance came and took the child to hospital. I think everyone's in shock around here. It's an awful thing to happen, and as a mum myself I really feel for the bairn's family. I just hope he pulls round."
Enquiries are ongoing into the incident on what is a busy road between North Shields town centre and the Meadow Well estate. Investigating officers are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision or who may have dashcam footage to get in touch.
Investigating officer Inspector Dean Hood, from Northumbria Police's Motor Patrol department, said: “This is a serious incident which has left a young boy in hospital with serious injuries. Our enquiries remain ongoing and we are trying to establish the full details of what has happened which is why we would ask anyone who was in the area at the time or who has dashcam footage, to get in touch.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Northumbria Police via the 'Tell us Something' page on their website or by calling 101 quoting reference number NP-20220425-0787. Alternatively, information can be passed on via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
