Teenage boy to undergo surgery after alleged hit-run at pedestrian crossing in St Albans

The mother of a 13-year-old boy who was struck by a car in an alleged hit-run in St Albans says it was sheer luck her son wasn’t killed.

Thirteen-year-old Joshua Cooper will undergo surgery at Sunshine Hospital after he was struck by a car in St Albans. Picture: Supplied

The mother of a 13-year-old boy who was seriously injured in a “traumatic” hit-run says it was sheer luck her son wasn’t killed.

Joshua Cooper remained in a stable condition at Sunshine Hospital where he is expected to undergo surgery on Thursday afternoon.

Police say a dark blue Ford Falcon sedan struck him as he crossed Main Rd West in St Albans on his way to catch the school bus on Wednesday morning.

Detectives are combing through CCTV and dashcam footage in an effort to identify the driver who hit the boy about 8:30am before driving off as witnesses rushed to Joshua’s aid.

Isobella Cooper said it was “very, very lucky” that Joshua did not suffer more severe injuries.

“It’s so great that he fell backwards and that he didn’t go forwards. He’s been very, very lucky,” she said.

Isobella Cooper said it was ‘very lucky’ her son did not suffer more severe injuries. Picture: Olivia Jenkins

Ms Cooper said Joshua was an active teen who was struggling to cope after enduring his first surgery on Wednesday night to treat a broken ankle.

“It’s been very traumatic for him,” she said.

“He’s a really active boy. He’s always on the go, so he’s finding this very difficult, to be in a hospital bed and not able to move.

“He’s closing himself off a bit. He’s just trying to process everything.

“But he’s doing very well.”

Ms Cooper, who was just around the corner when the mystery driver hit her son, said the footage capturing the incident “completely shocked” her.

“I got the phone call and ran straight away to make sure he was okay and found him on a park bench and lovely people helping him, which I really appreciate,” she said.

“They swerve and keep driving, so it’s really hard for me to go, “you didn’t know that you hit my son”.”

It is believed Joshua had right of way and the dark Ford ignored a red light.

Sergeant Jason Dolman of Brimbank Police urged the mystery driver to come forward. Picture: Olivia Jenkins

Ms Cooper called for the unknown driver to come forward to police.

“Everyone makes mistakes, and I understand that. And my son’s going to live with the consequences,” she said.

“How could someone just leave him on the ground?”

Senior Sergeant Jason Dolman from Brimbank Police said Joshua could have suffered more serious injuries if he had leaned forward as the 2012 model car hit him.

“It was quite a close call for him,” Sergeant Dolman said.

“If he’d been more forward, it might have actually been more of a direct hit.”

Sergeant Dolman urged the driver to attend Brimbank Police station.

He could not comment on whether the driver knew they had hit Joshua.

Sergeant Dolman said many recent pedestrian fatalities in the area had been caused by drivers and pedestrians not paying attention to the road.

“It would appear that the driver should have stopped,” he said.