Girl (3) serious after being struck by car while petting horse

Feb 17 2011 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

A TODDLER was this week seriously ill in hospital after being knocked down by a car as she was petting a horse with her grandparents.

Little Karris Pyper, aged three, sustained serious head injuries following the accident which occurred at Blantyre Ferme Road on Sunday afternoon.

A Vauxhall Meriva car ploughed into the girl and her 60-year-old grandfather, John McEwan, whilst swerving to avoid another car in Blantyre Farm Road on Sunday at 3.25pm.

The youngster’s grandmother, who escaped unharmed, looked on in horror as the vehicle dragged the toddler underneath a wheel before coming to a halt in a field.

The car knocked down a 3ft stone wall as it careered off the road.

Karris, who lives in Halfway, Cambuslang, was taken by ambulance to Wishaw General Hospital.

She was moved to the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow where her condition is said to be “serious, but stable.”

Mr McEwan was taken by ambulance to Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride where he is in a serious condition being treated for leg injuries.

The Meriva driver was not hurt.

The driver of the other vehicle stopped at the scene.

A witness said afterwards: “My husband and I were both there helping afterwards.

“It was an absolutely horrendous accident.

“The man was in very bad order.

“We’re both still very shocked.

“It was a real heart-stopper.”

Police inquiries are continuing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the accident.

Sergeant Kenny Anderson is appealing for any witnesses to the accident to contact him, tel: 01698 483150.