Lollipop lady hit by white Ford Transit on the school run

The community champion, known as Gill, was rushed to Southampton General Hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries after the collision on Tuesday afternoon near North Baddlesley Infant School where she works. Since then, parents and local people have rallied around to help the woman in her 60s - setting up a GoFundMe page to help her get back on her feet. Organiser Shelley Horton described her as a 'pillar of our community' on the page.

She said: "As a lot of you will already know our trusty lollipop lady Gill was involved in a terrible accident Tuesday afternoon whilst doing her job, looking after our children and keeping us all safe which ended up in her being injured and hospitalised. "Gill has worked on that road for over 30 years, she's not only a lollypop lady but a pillar of our community, a smiley face in the morning or a shoulder if you need a rant, also someone to have a gossip with if needed. "We all know this time of year is hard for everyone, I'd like to see if we can come together for Gill to ease any impact this terrible accident could have had one her."

The fundraiser started with a target of GBP500 but was soon boosted to GBP850 as donations poured in. So far, 78 people have donated GBP817. One donator said: "Gil has seen both my two daughters and our seven grandchildren across this busy road for the last 30-plus years.

"She is a lovely person who is out in all weathers to guide our children across this very busy road on their way to school. SEE ALSO: Man who failed to help with North Baddesley fly-tipping investigation fined[2] "She deserves nothing less than this after her unfortunate accident whilst carrying out her job."

Police said the van driver was present at the scene when they went to the crash and are appealing for witnesses and people with footage of the incident to get in touch. A spokesperson for Hampshire Police said: "Officers have begun an investigation into the incident and enquiries remain ongoing at this time. "If you witnessed the incident, please contact 101 and quote incident number 44230496883."

To donate, visit the gofundme page for Gill gofundme.com/f/gill-our-lovely-lollypop-lady?[3]

References

1. ^ Family pays tribute to kind-hearted man, 26, died in crash on A31 (www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk)
2. ^ Man who failed to help with North Baddesley fly-tipping investigation fined (www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk)
3. ^ gofundme.com/f/gill-our-lovely-lollypop-lady? (www.gofundme.com)