Schoolgirl 'thought she was dead' after being hit by car in horror accident

A schoolgirl "thought she was dead" after being struck down by a car - and is now scared to go outside.

Olivia Potts, 12, was making her way down Liverpool Road in Irlam when she was hit by the motor around 5.30pm on May 27.

The youngster had misjudged the distance of an oncoming car before stepping out onto the road, at which point she tried to jump out of the way - but it was too late.

She fell onto the car bonnet, flipped and landed on her head, with a passer-by quickly rushing over and helping to apply pressure to her injury while another called an ambulance.

Olivia, who attends St Patrick's High School, told the Manchester Evening News : “In that moment when it happened, I thought I was dead."

Olivia suffered a head injury. (Rachel Cooper)

Olivia says her head is 'stitched up now'. (Rachel Cooper)

When Olivia’s mum, Rachel Cooper, learned what had happened, she initially thought it was a prank.

But the 37-year-old rushed straight to the scene once she realised the situation was very real.

Rachel, from Walkden, said: “We didn’t believe it at first because she likes playing jokes.

"When she phoned and said she had been knocked over, we said, ‘Course she has’. I was panicking. If there weren’t good people there, like the man that kept pressure on her head, it could have been different.

“The driver stopped and stayed there and the police turned up after she was in an ambulance. They closed the road off and everything.

“She just misjudged where the car was. It was an unfortunate accident. She’s scared to go out – we need to encourage her to get back out there because it’s not the road she needs to be scared of.”

Olivia was rushed to Manchester Children's Hospital where she received seven stitches to her head as well as treatment for bruising, cuts and grazes.

The youngster said: “In that moment when it happened, I thought I was dead. I opened my eyes and I saw my best friend in shock. She was so petrified – she saved my life.

“I would like to thank everyone who helped me... I honestly don’t know what to say except from thank you. My head is stitched up now and I have crutches. I just need to relax but thank you to everyone who helped me.”

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said no arrests have been made and enquiries into the incident are ongoing.

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