Girl hit by truck seriously hurt

Damage to the vehicle which struck an 8-year-old yesterday. Photo/John Stone.

An 8-year old girl is seriously hurt after being hit by a light truck near the pedestrian crossing at Otaika shops in Whangarei.

She was struck by the northbound vehicle as she darted across the road at about 3.40pm yesterday.

She suffered serious injuries after being thrown on to the vehicle's bonnet and hitting the windscreen so hard it smashed.

She was taken to Whangarei Hospital in a serious condition by ambulance.

Sergeant Lance Goulsbro of Northland Police Highway Patrol said there were conflicting witness statements about whether the girl had been on the pedestrian crossing when she was hit.

The Serious Crash Unit were at the scene. The truck had come to a halt about 30m north of the crossing.

Southbound traffic was diverted along Otaika Rd behind the shops on State Highway 1 and back on to the main road at the Mt Pleasant Rd junction.

Northbound traffic was sent along Arcus and Mt Pleasant Roads, and via High St into the city.

The road was reopened by 5:30pm.