Shocking CCTV Of Mum And Toddler Escape

Shocking CCTV footage capturing the moment a woman and a toddler are hit by a car which then speeds off has been released by police in a bid to track the driver and the car.

In the 20 seconds of CCTV footage taken from cameras in King William Street in the Hillfields area of Coventry, a woman and child can be seen leaving the Sky Blue Fish Bar and crossing the road at the junction of Canterbury Street.

As the 42-year-old driving instructor from the Stoke area crosses the road with her 3-year-old nephew, a black Audi estate overtakes a turning car and ploughs into the pair throwing them down the road.

The car momentarily slows down before the callous driver races off down King William Street towards Berry Street followed by a witness who runs after the car and driver in a bid to stop them.

Miraculously just seconds after being hit the tot leaps from the ground to be comforted by passersby who rushed to help as his aunt lies dazed on the road.

PC Abbi Jones from the force's Traffic Unit is investigating the incident. "This is a shocking piece of CCTV footage which captures a truly shocking incident," she said.

"We have taken the unusual step of releasing the images - which carries a warning for viewers - in the hope that someone will recognise the car and come forward with information so that we can trace the driver."

Officers who raced to the scene were amazed to find that despite severity of the impact, the pair escaped with only minor injuries - a diagnosis confirmed by doctors at the city's Coventry and Warwickshire University Hospital.

"This could have been so much worse," added PC Jones. "At the time of the collision, the driver would not have known that the woman and child were uninjured."

Despite national checks of the partial registration plate taken by a witness - EN57 - we have so far been unable to trace the Audi.

Officers now believe the car which will have sustained damage to the front from the impact may be being hidden in a lock-up or garage.

"With this in mind I would ask that any mechanics who have repaired a black Audi estate with front end damage between the start of December and now get in touch. Similarly, I want to hear from anyone who has seen a similar car being driven into a lock-up and not come out since."

The collision took place just before 7.30pm on Friday 7 December.

Anyone with information on the movements of the car before or after the collision should call PC Jones on 101. Alternatively, people who do not want to speak with police officers can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.