The woman, 44, was walking in the car park near Staples, at Hartlepool Marina, when she was knocked down by a Ford Ka as it reversed.



The Ford, which was being driven by a 17-year-old Hartlepool girl, then crashed into a blue Renault Laguna that was parked in the car park.

A man and a year-old baby in the Renault were both taken to the University Hospital of North Tees, but were given the all-clear.

The woman knocked down by the car was treated at hospital for a graze to the head and a cut to her ankle and was later released, as was the teenage driver of the car.

The drama unfolded at 2.30pm yesterday, and shocked onlookers described a chaotic scene that followed as people rushed to the aid of the woman knocked over.

Tom Cook, 19, from Seaton Carew, who works as a customer services assistant in Blockbuster, said: "I saw the aftermath. I heard a woman scream and everybody swarmed around. A police officer said a few people had been hurt.

"I spoke to another person who said there was blood all over, and somebody was laid on the floor."

Ivy Lowson, 87, of Cundall Road, Hartlepool, said: "There was somebody laid flat and there was people around. There were two ambulances."

Sergeant Andy Lawson, of Cleveland Police's road policing team,
said: "There was a man and a baby in the blue car. They were taken to hospital for check-ups.

"The driver of the Ka banged her head, and suffered a cut. She was also taken to North Tees."

Sgt Lawson added: "Until we get the vehicles recovered and examined, we won't know what caused the crash."

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident to contact them on (01642) 301552.