Surrey Comet's June Sampson hit by car outside Kingston Hospital

The 80-year-old suffered pelvic injuries, broken bones in her legs, and a severe head injury with a bleed on the brain, her husband Hilton Tims said this morning.

Police said at lunchtime her injuries were being treated being treated as serious but not life-threatening.

Paramedics from London Air Ambulance were called to Galsworthy Road after an accident involving a pedestrian and car just before 7pm.

The road was cordoned off for about two hours by police.

Mrs Sampson, who has worked for the paper for 39 years and writes a regular column, was returning home from work at the office.

Police told her husband she was on or near a zebra crossing when she was hit.

Mr Tims said: “I was told she was hit by someone turning out of the hospital. The police told me and they said whoever it was was traumatised.

“We have called this morning and she had a restful night and they say her blood count is going down which is a good thing.

“She's still unconscious. They are going to operate today and they thought they would leave her asleep and unconscious before they operate.

“We are just hoping.”

A resident said the accident appeared to have happened about halfway between the zebra crossing and the northern end of the car park.

A witness to the aftermath of the incident said he saw a person being treated on the road last night halfway between the zebra crossing and the northern end of the car park, towards Kingston Hill - an estimated 50 yards away from the crossing.

Robert Belton, who lives in Galsworthy Road and is a fellow member of the Kingston Society with June, said: "The air ambulance car was here and a doctor and a paramedic were also doing whatever work was necessary.

"Galsworthy Road was closed from end to end. It seemed to be pretty serious. I didn't hear it as I was watching TV.

"I don't know whether she had been knocked over on the zebra crossing or trying to cross at another point.

"If she was [hit on the zebra crossing] she was carried about 50 yards.

"They were treating her for a long time, about half an hour. They were working like billy-oh.

"The paramedic had a light on her head and was using that as illumination.

"There was a car. I think it may have been a BMW, or a large saloon car, that was parked on the road with the hazard lights flashing."

Mr Belton said he did not think he had seen the driver of the car. He said: "I don't think I did. "The only person who didn't have a uniform didn't appear to be overly concerned. He was wearing dark clothes.

"I can only say the amount of work they were doing in the open, not in the ambulance, indicated to me it was pretty serious. She was draped up in polythene. I couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman as they were too many people moving all the time.

"Eventually she went into the ambulance with a drip held up and various other equipment being used.

"It was clearly very traumatic for all the people involved. The doctor and paramedics were working like mad.

"It is very bad. I have known June for many years. I am extremely sorry and worried.

A spokeswoman from London Ambulance said: “Staff treated one adult female for chest and leg injuries and she was taken as a priority to St George’s major trauma centre by the medics from the air ambulance who came by car.”

A spokesman for Kingston police said an investigation into what happened was under way. The driver stopped at the scene of the accident and has not been arrested.

Police asked anyone with information to call police on 020 8941 9011 or Crimestopers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Did you see what happened? Call the newsdesk on 020 8744 4288 or email dlindsell@london.newsquest.co.uk.

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