An Angus boy was rushed to hospital in a critical condition with a fractured skull following a collision with a car as he crossed the road just yards from his girlfriend.
Alister Cumming was taken to the intensive care unit at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee following the accident in Brechin, which left him with a large gash to the head.
The 16-year-old’s head and body smashed off the windscreen of the vehicle as he was crossing busy Montrose Street at its junction with Drumachlie Loan.
Alister’s grandfather Alister Cumming snr (62) said the family were waiting to hear if he would need surgery, due to a build-up of blood inside his skull.
”He is critical but stable,” Mr Cumming said. ”The police have not been able to tell us much. As far as we understand he has broken the windscreen and fractured his skull. He has a big cut and a slit on his skull and he is being kept sedated.
”He was just crossing the road and his girlfriend was standing there speaking to his pals when it happened.”
The road remained closed for around four hours following the accident, which happened at around 7.40pm on Saturday. Alister had been with his girlfriend and some friends at the time and the young male driver of the car stopped immediately. A woman in the car behind called the emergency services, who were quick to arrive.
In addition to the head injury, Alister sustained a broken ankle and is badly bruised down one side.
”He is unconscious and a machine is doing everything for him just now,” Mr Cumming added. ”They are hopeful they won’t need to operate on him at all and they are using a device to release the pressure in his head.”
The teenager’s parents Barry, who works as a tractor driver, and Jill, who is an auxiliary carer, have barely left his side, with brothers Barry and Martyn, sister Debbie and grandmother Trish all waiting for news on his condition.
Police have confirmed that Alister was involved in a collision with a ”red motor car” travelling eastwards on the A935 towards Montrose. Anyone who witnessed the accident should call 0300 111 2222.