A TEENAGE girl suffered a fractured skull after she was hit by a Basildon Council-owned van which failed to stop.

Siam McEwan, 17, remains on a high depency unit at Basildon Hospital after the back door of the van flung open and hit her as she walked to her sister’s school sports day.

Siam was also left with a fractured shoulder blade in two places and has been left deaf in one ear following the incident at the junction of High Road and Hazelmere in Pitsea. Her boyfriend Michael Hoskyn, 16, was with her as they walked to watch Siam’s sister Jorja, six, compete at nearby Ryedene Primary School. Michael tried to stem Siam’s bleeding with his T-shirt before help arrived.

Seevic College student Siam’s mum Jo Bailey, 42, and step dad James Alan, 35, are appealing for witnesses to the accident, which happened at about 1.30pm on Monday, to come forward.

James of Ryedene Close, Vange, said: “When this guy didn’t stop, lots of people were apparently screaming at him in the street, and someone got his number plate.”

He added: “Doctors are hopeful she’ll make a full recovery eventually.”

The Basildon Council-owned van was being driven by an employee for English Land-scapes, a contractor which carries out grass and hedge cutting services in the district.

The driver did not stop at the scene, but was tracked down and questioned by police.

Hugh Reynolds, Basildon Council’s manager of parks and grounds maintenance, said: “Our thoughts are with the family, and we wish the girl a speedy recovery.

“We are in discussions with English Landscapes, to try and establish what caused the accident.”

Roger Grimwade, spokes-man for Essex Police, said no arrests had been made, but witnesses could call 0300 333444.

English Landscapes said there was nobody available to comment to the Echo about the incident.