A teenager who hopes to become a police officer is fighting for her life after a hit-and-run accident.

Leighanne Charge, 19, was knocked down as she crossed the road near a busy roundabout in Hounslow on Easter Sunday.

Miss Charge, who hopes to become a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), had been on her way to a friend’s house at about 9pm when she was hit by a red Mazda 626, close to the Jolly Waggoner’s roundabout in Bath Road.

The driver of the car is reported to have got out of the car after the collision before driving away.

An ambulance and a rapid response car were called to the scene, along with an air ambulance doctor.

Miss Charge was taken to Charing Cross Hospital, which specialises in head injuries. Police said yesterday that Miss Charge remained in a critical condition on a life support machine.

Police have also called for witnesses to the incident to come forward.

Hounslow Detective Inspector Alan Holford told the Hounslow Guardian: “There would have been other people at the roundabout who would have seen what happened.

“We’re asking for anyone who saw the events to tell us what they saw.”

He added: “This is very sad.”

Three years ago a 12-year-old boy from Cranford died after being knocked down in Bath Road. His death led to several safety campaigns being launched, including the introduction of speed reduction zones and pedestrian training for school pupils.

Hounslow lead member for environment and planning, Councillor Barbara Reid, said: “Road safety is a very important to us and is a high priority for Hounslow.”

Anyone who witnessed the accident should call Detective Sergeant Dave Purvis at Hounslow CID on 020 8247 6160 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

  • A 20-year-old man from Hounslow appeared at Feltham Magistrates' Court yesterday charged with a series of driving offences.

Vytautas Bartkevicius, of Martindale Road, Hounslow, was arrested on Sunday and charged with failure to stop at the scene of an accident, dangerous driving and causing damage to another vehicle. He was also charged with being three times over the drink drive limit and being unfit to drive.

Bartkevicius has been remanded in custody to reappear before magistrates on April 22.

No plea was entered.