FAMILY members and friends of Ann-Marie Newman were last night praying that doctors would not have to amputate the leg of the 52-year-old, who was injured when she was allegedly hit by a police vehicle in Waterhouse, St Andrew, yesterday.

According to residents of the inner-city community, Newman was helping her friend Rosemarie Williams — a vendor — at her stall on a sidewalk near a bend when the police vehicle allegedly got out of control and hit them, pinning Newman to the ground.

Both were taken to the hospital where Williams was treated and released and Newman admitted in critical condition.

"We were sitting on the sidewalk and just see the police vehicle flash around the corner and crash into the sidewalk," alleged Williams, a mother of four, as she sat in her backyard with her leg bandaged.

Yesterday, head of the Police Traffic Department Superintendent Radcliffe Lewis told the Jamaica Observer that he was aware of the incident, but could not provide any details having been locked in a meeting for much of the day.

"What I can say is that the Hunt's Bay Police have launched an investigation into the matter," Lewis said.

Meanwhile, angry Waterhouse residents were dissatisfied with the silence on the part of the police.

John-Ross Walker, one of Newman's son, demanded answers.

"Right now me still in shock, when me all hear say me mother ina hospital and that she might all lose one of her leg ," said a distraught Walker.

As the angry residents gather near the accident site, a small team of police waited near the blood-stained wall.

"We need to hear something, this can't go like this. If it was one of us who [hit] down the lady we would be in handcuffs. All now we don't hear anything," said a man, who identified himself only as John and claimed he witnessed the accident.