An 18-year-old woman listening to music on an iPod has been seriously hurt after being hit by a van in inner-west Sydney, police say.
The woman was crossing Sydenham Road, near Northcote Street in Marrickville, when she was hit by a Toyota HiAce van about 12.50am today, police said.
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Inspector Michael Lauricella of Marrickville police said the woman had serious internal injuries, including a ruptured spleen and broken bones. She was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a serious condition for surgery.
"She was listening to an iPod as she crossed the road," Inspector Michael Lauricella of Marrickville police said, adding that investigators did not think speed was a factor.
The driver, a 74-year-old man, underwent mandatory blood and urine testing at hospital.
A 45-year-old woman was hit by a car on Cross Street in Brookvale about 9.20am today, police and emergency services said.
The woman was treated by paramedics but declined to go to hospital, a NSW Ambulance Service spokesman said.
The accidents were the latest in a string of pedestrian collisions in Sydney this month.
On Wednesday, a 66-year-old man died after being hit by a car as he crossed Toomevara Street near Rocky Point Road in Kogarah.
On May 11, a woman involved in a crash with her mother on the Southern Freeway at Mount Ousley died after she ran from the accident and on to the northern lanes of the freeway and was hit by several cars.
On May 8, there were four pedestrian accidents in Sydney and two collisions the day before.
On May 2, mother-of-two Mijin Shin died after being hit by a bus at Beecroft as she crossed a road, carrying her baby daughter.
The spate of accidents prompted the Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner John Hartley, to call on motorists and pedestrians to be careful on the roads.
"But it appears my appeal fell on deaf ears," he said following the accidents on May 8.
"If people do not start paying more attention and abiding by the road rules then it is only a matter of time before we have another death on the roads," he said.
The NSW Ambulance Service also urged caution.
"Never assume an approaching vehicle can see you or will stop for you," the NSW Ambulance Service acting chief executive Mike Willis said on May 4.
"We see a lot of accidents occur at pedestrian crossings so you should always wait for vehicles to pass completely or come to a complete stop before crossing any intersection."
Road safety experts have told the Herald the increased use of headphones was partly to blame for rates of pedestrian deaths and injuries, and contrasts with the downward trend of other motor vehicle accidents.
There have been 24 pedestrian deaths in NSW this year, 11 more than at the same time last year.
Transport NSW said shorter winter days were when roads were the most dangerous for pedestrians.
Police appealed for witnesses to the Marrickville incident to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
with Nick Ralston
This reporter is on Twitter @curious_scribe
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