A man has been arrested after a nine-year-old was taken to hospital after being hit by a van in Hartlepool on Monday (September 26) evening.

Emergency services received a call at 5.50pm yesterday (Monday) to Owton Manor Lane in Hartlepool following reports of a collision between a child and a Ford Transit van.

The road was closed for around two hours while police and paramedic crews were on the scene and a nine-year-old boy was taken to North Tees hospital for treatment.

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Now a 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of both drug driving and careless driving as police continue to investigate the incident. He has since been released under investigation.

A spokesperson for Cleveland Police said: “Police attended a collision involving a nine-year-old boy and a Ford Transit van on Owton Manor Lane in Hartlepool just before 6pm yesterday (Monday 26th September).

“The boy was taken to hospital and discharged later that evening, and a 23 year old man was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and on suspicion of careless driving.  He was released under investigation while enquiries continue.”

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Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward and assist their investigations.

The spokesperson added: “Witnesses or drivers with dash cam footage are asked to contact Cleveland Police on the 101 number, quoting ref 173107.”

Eyewitnesses reported police having cordoned off the area while emergency crews worked at the scene.

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson told The Northern Echo: “We received a call at 5.50pm on Monday evening to reports of a collision between a vehicle and a child on Owton Manor Lane.

“Our paramedic crews treated the child on scene before taking them to North Tees Hospital.”

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