A pensioner remained in a serious condition last night after being involved in an early-morning collision with a car in a Fife village.
The 75-year-old, named locally as Ella Taylor, was involved in a collision with the vehicle as she walked her dogs in High Street, Leslie, at around 5.40am on Thursday.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and she was then taken to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy. She is understood to have suffered serious head and chest injuries.
One of the first people on the scene, local newsagent Gurbaksh Gill, said Mrs Taylor was conscious before paramedics transported her to hospital.
He said: ”She was lying there with a lady who was looking after her. She was speaking at that time and there was a lot of blood.
”Ella is a regular in the shop. She comes in every morning to buy her papers and usually brings two dogs.”
Mr Gill first became aware of the drama unfolding around the corner from his shop when another customer returned just moments after leaving the premises.
”He came back in asking if I had a blanket or anything that could cover her,” continued Mr Gill. ”I said I only had my jacket I didn’t have anything else that would do in the shop.
”I went outside and could see her on the ground.”
The accident happened on the corner of High Street and Douglas Road, just outside Leslie Community Library.
An off-duty police officer is understood to have been near the scene and directed traffic while emergency services tended to the casualty.
Police closed the route as an investigation was launched, reopening the road to traffic shortly before midday.
Fife Constabulary appealed for any witnesses to come forward.
Inspector Brenda Sinclair, from the force’s road policing unit, said: ”If anyone saw a woman walking with two dogs in Leslie yesterday morning, or saw the accident, please contact police on 08456 005702.”