Turton School girl back in class after being hit by bus

Scarlet Taziker was hit by a bus when she was on her way home from Turton High, while trying to cross Turton Road, Bromley Cross, near Shady Lane, in January.

Father backs Bolton pelican crossing call after daughter is hit by bus

Schoolgirl taken to hospital in air ambulance after crash on Turton Road, Bromley Cross, Bolton

Her grandma Sheila Taziker has said that Scarlet is "feeling a lot better now" but still has to do breathing exercises for her lungs.

She said: “One of her lungs is badly bruised and one is slightly squashed.

"She’s done really well and was only off school for about a week.

“I told her if it got too much to come home, but she only did that the once.

"She’s still very weary outside, but she gets a bus that goes up to the school now.

"Some people think if they don’t see something physically like a broken leg that they are alright.

“But mentally and physically, I have seen a difference in her.

“It’s not nice seeing her with anxiety, because she never had that before.”

Brave Scarlet recovering after accident

Sheila said that it could have been a lot worse if it was a car, and at the time she immediately thought the worst, and wondered if she was even alive.

The accident prompted Kathryn Henderson to create a petition for a pelican crossing to try and make it safer for children to cross Turton Road, as well as a Facebook group.

Sheila added: “We never want to go through that again because unfortunately there will be a death, which is why the campaign for the crossing is so important.

“The amount of traffic across everywhere has increased and if you go up Turton Road it’s a blind bend.

“All it takes is for someone to be crossing and that’s it.

“There are a lot of schools in the area and only two places really to cross.

“For everybody’s safety, there needs to be that crossing.”

TALKS: Bolton North East MP Mark Logan, Cllrs Stuart Haslam, Samantha Connor, and Amy Cowen, with residents from the Turton Road Crossing Group (Image: Public)

Sheila said that she cannot thank Kathryn enough for her help in getting the campaign started, because she "wouldn’t have known where to start", but it has also been part of a joint effort in the community.

The petition has now reached 2,530 signatures, which was presented to mayor of Bolton Cllr Linda Thomas last week during a council meeting.

John – Sheila’s husband – has also been spreading the word at Bolton Interchange, where he works.

Sheila added: “Thousands and thousands of people go through the train station every day.

“And John has told anybody that he knows.

“We have contacted all of our family and friends.

“Not everybody is online, so spreading the word in the community has been a big part of this.

“This is the first time in my life that I have seen so many people come together for something like this.

"On behalf of Scarlet and family, I would like to thank everyone for all their support."

Scarlet battling through life with her dad Phillip Taziker

Highways and Transport, Cllr, Stuart Haslam said: “The petition which was presented to council contained over 2,500 signatures and this is a clear demonstration of the strength of feeling in the local community.

“The highways department are well aware of the concerns being expressed by local residents, are currently reviewing viable options and will report back as soon as possible. 

“I would like to reiterate that road safety remains a key priority for the council and myself as executive cabinet member.

“I am very pleased to hear that Scarlet is recovering from what was a very nasty and traumatic accident."