Schoolgirl rescued from under Royal Mail van

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A schoolgirl trapped under a van after a collision on her bike had to be rescued by firefighters.
The 11-year-old became stuck under the front axle of the Royal Mail van after the accident as she was riding her pink bike down Joannah Street, Fulwell.

Witnesses said the van was coming out of a back alley onto the street when the collision happened.

Onlookers informed the girl's mum, who is believed to live in a nearby road, who rushed to the scene to comfort her.

Emergency services, including six fire engines, were called and firefighters had to lift the vehicle using jacks to free the youngster from underneath.

She was then taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital where she was treated for lower body injuries. Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Stanley Fletcher, 45, of Joannah Street, said: "I heard all this screaming outside and jumped up and rushed out to see what had happened.

"The guy who was driving the van was stood outside and he was in a right state. He was on the ground with the little girl.

"The fire brigade got here and had to jack the van up before they could get her out. It looked as though her leg was trapped right underneath the front of the van.

"It's lucky that the van was travelling so slowly otherwise it could have been a lot worse, look what happened to the lad who died not far from here."

Another Johannah Street resident, who did not want to be named, added: "We didn't see what happened but there was a lot of commotion and when we came outside we saw there was a pink bike lying on the road and a little girl under the van."

A police spokeswoman said: "At 5pm yesterday, police were called to a Joannah Street after reports of a collision between an 11-year-old an a red van.

"The girl was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital with non life-threatening injuries."

On Thursday, February 12, 15-year-old Kane Scales was hit by a Volkswagen Passat as he crossed Newcastle Road with a pal.

The Monkwearmouth School pupil suffered massive head injuries, a shattered pelvis and broken ankles. He was transferred to Newcastle General Hospital but died less than 24 hours later.