Boy, 2, seriously hurt as car crashes into nursery playground (original) (raw)

Reach PLC A man leans down to place a yellow marker of evidence on the ground amid rubble and fencing after a silver car beside him crashed through a fence leading to a nursery playground.Reach PLC

The crash happened in the playground of Partou Sunny Days Nursery and Pre-school on Vale Road, Whitby, Ellesmere Port

A two-year-old boy has been seriously injured and another two children hurt after a car crashed into a nursery playground.

The vehicle drove through a fence at the Partou Sunny Days Nursery and Pre-school on Vale Road in Whitby, Ellesmere Port, just before 09:55 BST, said Cheshire Police.

The two-year-old has been taken to hospital. Police said his injuries were "not believed to be life-threatening". Two other children sustained minor injuries after being hit by fencing. The nursery said it was "extremely distressing" and its immediate focus was supporting those affected.

A 63-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Close-up of the fences and Partou Sunny Days Nursery and Pre-school's playground showing damage to fencing at the rear after a car crashed through them. The nursery is on Vale Road, Whitby, Ellesmere Port.

The crash happened at Partou Sunny Days Nursery and Pre-school on Vale Road, Whitby, Ellesmere Port

Officers attended the scene alongside colleagues from the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) and the boy was taken to hospital with "what are thought to be serious injuries".

The children's next of kin have been made aware.

Reach PLC Street with car carrier truck and police car outside opening of white buildingReach PLC

The nursery on Vale Road has closed

A Partou spokesperson said: "We can confirm an incident occurred today at our Sunny Days Nursery setting in Ellesmere Port involving a vehicle entering an outdoor play area.

"This is an extremely distressing incident and our immediate focus is supporting the children affected, their families and our colleagues at the nursery."

The nursery said it was in contact with the families involved and was doing "everything we can to support them during this extremely difficult time" along with working closely with police and relevant authorities on the investigations.

The force said officers remained at the scene to "fully establish the circumstances" of what was believed to be an "isolated incident".

Local MP Justin Madders said he was "deeply saddened" to hear about the crash.

"My thoughts are with the young child who has been seriously injured and their family at what must be an unimaginably difficult time, he said.

"I am also thinking of the other children involved, their families and the nursery staff who have experienced a traumatic incident."

The BBC has contacted NWAS for comment.