[Back to local news index for 2009]

Teenager involved in accident on the A49 at Much Birch

Herefordshire Community Messaging - Ringmaster
27th November 2009

Police in South Herefordshire are appealing for witnesses after a teenager from South Wales, walking from Hereford to Ross along the A49, was found lying in the road, having been hit by a vehicle.

The 16-year old had been visiting friends in Hereford. He had left Hereford around 4am on Thursday 26th November 2009 to walk/hitch back to Pontypool via Ross. At a point approximately 200 metres south of the Axe and Cleaver pub in Much Birch, at around 6.45am, it appears he was struck on his right side by an unknown vehicle travelling south to Ross.

The lad was found by a van driver a short while later, lying at the edge of the road. The driver took him to a garage at Ross, as he did not have obvious injuries other than pain and confusion. Concerned staff at the garage called police and ambulance staff and he was subsequently treated at Hereford County Hospital for a broken right foot and severe grazing/bruising to his right side and left foot.

Police are anxious to trace any witnesses to the collision. PC Lee Hull from Ross Police Station, who is investigating the incident, said, "It may be that whoever collided with the teenager was unaware that they had done so. At the time it was raining heavily, it was very dark and the lad was walking down the A49 with his back to the traffic and was dressed in black. All he remembers is being struck but cannot recall anything else."

Police are anxious to identify the other vehicles comprising the small convoy that the van driver/ witness was in. The lead vehicle was a 7.5 tonne goods vehicle which pulled into a lay-by just after the witness spotted the lad lying in the road.

Anyone with information should contact PC Lee Hull at Ross Police Station on 0300 333 3000 as soon as possible.