A COUNCIL contractor has been arrested on suspicion of stealing a van which was involved in a hit-and-run crash.

The 28-year-old man, from Wickford, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, failing to stop following a road collision and of driving other than in accordance with a licence.

The arrest is in relation to an incident in Pitsea last month when Siam McEwan, 17, was hit by the back door of a van.

She had to be rushed to Basildon Hospital and was treated on its high dependency unit for multiple injuries.

She has also been left deaf in her right ear.

The particulars of the man’s arrest means he is alleged to not only have unlawfully taken a vehicle, but have then caused injury or damage while driving it.

It is also alleged he either only held a provisional licence or was not legally entitled to be driving the Basildon Council-owned van, which had been leased to his employer.

The man, who works for English Landscapes, the firm employed by Basildon Council to carry out grass cutting across the district, has been released on bail until September, while police continue their inquiries.

Siam, a pupil at Seevic college, in Thundersley, was walking with her boyfriend Michael Hoskyn, 16, to watch her sister Jorja, six, compete in her sports day at Ryedene Primary School, when the accident happened.

She was at the junction of High Road and Hazelmere, in Pitsea, when the van drove past.

Her stepdad James Alan, 35 of Ryedene, Vange, said the teenager was now making a slow recovery at home.

Medics can’t yet say whether her hearing will return.

He said: “She is in a great deal of pain because of all the fractures and is having trouble walking because she is still deaf in her right ear.

“They are going to assess her hearing in about a week’s time, but they still don’t know whether her hearing will return.

“It could be the fracture in her skull is putting pressure on her ear.

“She doesn’t go out much because she’s scared of walking along pavements and she’s not eating or sleeping properly. She’s making a very slow recovery.”

The crash happened at around 1.30pm on Monday, June 21.

STUDENT Siam McEwan may be forced to put her studies on ice following the hit-and-run crash after which she felt lucky to be alive.

The 17-year-old, formerly of Ryedene, Vange, but who is now living in Hampden Close, Grays, had just started the second year of her A-Level studies at Seevic college, in Thunderlsey, when she was involved in the accident with the Basildon Council-owned van.

Her stepdad James Alan, 35, also of Ryedene, Vange, said Siam may now have to put her studies on hold.

He said: “This has had a huge impact on her.

“She’s a clever girl, but while she’s recovering she may have to miss her second year completely.

“The college may let her have a gap for a year, but she may have to retake all of it, we will just have to see.”

Mr Alan also gave heartfelt thanks to the Echo for running an appeal encouraging witnesses to come forward.

He also thanked those who made statements to the police, and the medical team who treated Siam at Basildon Hospital.

He added: “The nurses at that hospital went above and beyond to help her.

“It was just nice to have so many people doing nice things for Siam.”