Dance student was left for dead after Croydon hit and run

Alessia Boschiazzo, 14, was crossing Morland Road, Croydon, to visit friends on Friday at 7pm when she was hit by a speeding car.

The student, who attends Ursuline High School in Wimbledon, was catapulted across the road and the driver then accelerated away, leaving her for dead.

A manhunt has been launched for the driver and registered owner of the car.

Witnesses described the driver as a white man, believed to be in his 20s, with short hair.

A green Renault Clio was seen speeding away from the scene and was found a short time later, burnt out in Davies Close.

Witnesses described how the car’s tyres smoked as the driver spun it around and fled the scene.

Iain Beaton, who works at Classic Automobiles in Morland Road, said: “I heard a noise and looked out of the window.

“It was like an explosion.”

Video footage captured by Mr Beaton’s garage showed the car swerve to avoid the girl, and then spin again before driving away at high speed towards Norwood Junction.

Mr Beaton said motorists stopped and helped Alessia while waiting for paramedics.

Louise Lister, the director of No Limit Dance and Arts Company where Boschiazzo trained as a dancer, said: “She is one of the most beautiful and talented girls I have ever met.

“She is intelligent and does not deserve this. All the girls at the dance studio have been to visit her in hospital.

“I hope they catch whichever cold-hearted person did this.”

A family spokesman said: “She is a beautiful, happy, active and fun-loving teenager. She loves dance, at which she is very talented, and was hopeful to gain a place at the Brits School in Croydon.

“With her dance troupe she raised money for charities.

“We continue to pray for her quick recovery so she is able to dance and be herself once more.”

Addiscombe councillor Patricia Hay-Justice said the area around Morland Road was an accident blackspot with cars regularly racing each other.

She said: “It is certainly in definite need of traffic management. The area around Morland Road and Davidson Road in particular can be quite dangerous.

“This is a horrendous accident and something needs to happen.”

Police are urgently appealing for witnesses to the incident or to anyone who has seen a green Renault Clio, with T861 JKP registration within the past month.

If you have any information call Catford collision investigation unit on 020 8285 1574 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.