By Stewart Ross

APPALLED POLICE are hunting a callous motorist who left a seven-year-old road accident victim lying in the street in agony.

The driver involved stepped out of his vehicle, gazed briefly at the stricken girl—who had a shattered thigh—then drove off.

Yesterday the child’s mother expressed her utter disbelief that anyone could be so heartless.

Lynne Gibson (29) was expecting Leigh home from nearby Aberhill Primary School in Methil when she received a shocking call from a teacher.

She said, “They said there’d been an accident and it could be Leigh.

“I grabbed my youngest, Cameron, and went straight to Wellesley Road and she was lying there with the paramedics working on her.

“She was conscious but in shock and started crying when she saw me.”

The child was rushed to Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline, where she will remain for at least six weeks.

Leigh is undergoing traction to repair a broken femur but surgeons will have to operate if the procedure is unsuccessful.

As a full-time mum, Lynne must care for Cameron (5) and Danni (8) and still find time to visit Leigh.

“She is still very traumatised and the accident has had an effect on the other children too,” said Lynne.

“Me and Cameron went to see Leigh and he just burst into tears when he saw his sister lying there.

“What makes me so angry is that the driver stopped and got out of his car.

“He saw her lying there and he must have known she was hurt.

“But he just left her. How could anyone do that to a little kid?”

Lynne said the entire family is “torn up” by what happened to Leigh.

“The police have been very supportive and I hope there’s someone out there who recognises this driver.

“He has had a couple of days to hand himself in and he hasn’t and it all makes me so, so angry.”

Inspector Alan Turpie of Fife Constabulary also condemned the man’s attitude towards the injured girl.

“Whilst he did stop initially his callous disregard for the injuries sustained by the young girl tends to suggest an uncaring attitude,” said the inspector.

“We have obvious concerns with regard to him not stopping at the scene and it would suggest that the gentleman has something more to hide.”

Mr Turpie stressed the driver or those who know him have a “moral obligation” to come forward and play their part in the investigation.

The road accident, which happened at about 3.10pm on Wednesday, involved a silver/blue Ford Focus or a car of similar appearance.

The driver is in his late 30s, is 5ft 9in tall, has a bald head and was wearing black jogging bottoms and a cream T-shirt.

He was clean-shaven and has a local accent.

Anyone with information should contact Fife Constabulary on 01592 251111.