A Launceston woman has been flown to the Alfred Hospital after being struck by a vehicle as she was walking in her street on her birthday.
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The 31-year-old was hit by a white Mitsubishi ute on Ecclestone Road at Riverside on Thursday.
She remains in a critical condition, a Launceston General Hospital spokesperson said.
The incident occurred about 7.20am, and the woman was transferred to Melbourne about 4pm the same day.
Tasmania Police said she was walking along the left-hand lane of Ecclestone Road wearing headphones with her back to traffic.
The headphones and one of the woman’s shoes remained on Ecclestone Road this morning, where police are investigating the scene.
Tasmania Police Inspector Darren Hopkins said the sun was a factor in the crash.
They believe the driver had the sun in his eyes as he was driving east.
The 19-year-old driver immediately turned around and attempted to help the woman, Inspector Hopkins said.
“The driver is in shock but received no injuries,” he said.
Police said at this stage they did not believe he had broken any laws.
Both parties were residents of Ecclestone Road, where the collision occurred.
Police tape and traffic cones blocked half of the road at the scene Thursday morning, a few kilometres from Tasmania Zoo, shortly after the woman was transferred to the Launceston General Hospital.
She had sustained significant injuries to the head and pelvis, and police described her condition as very serious.
Inspector Hopkins reminded all pedestrians to be mindful of their safety when around the roads.
“The woman was wearing headphones and may not have been aware of her environment, which could have been a contributing factor in the crash,” he said.
“Any sort of distraction around motor vehicles is cause for concern, not just headphones but also being on your phone.
“If you are a pedestrian you are to walk in the opposite direction to traffic so that you have the traffic that’s coming towards you in sight.
“On country roads like this drivers have to be aware that they may share the roads with pedestrians because there’s not a footpath.”
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