A STUDENT suffered devastating injuries which have left her like “a child” after she was seriously hurt in a car accident.

Shona Howard, from Little Hulton , was crossing Portland Street, in Manchester city centre, when she was struck in the side by a black cab just after midnight on May 5 this year.

She was knocked to the ground and suffered serious injuries, including bleeding on the brain.

The 20-year-old, from Little Hulton, had been studying for a degree in fashion styling and image making at the University of Salford, but could now be forced to drop out.

Her family is now appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Her mother, Shana, aged 38, said: “It’s like she’s a child again. She gets really tired easily, after just a few minutes doing something simple like walking round the supermarket.

“Her speech is sometimes slurred, she suffers from short-term memory loss, she has problems seeing things clearly and she has difficulty understanding some things.

“She always applied herself and was hoping to get a first in her degree. Now we don’t know if she’ll be able to return to her studies.”

Shona was taking a break during a shift working in a bar and was crossing the road when she was hit by the taxi, but does not remember exactly what happened.

Mrs Howard said: “She remembers it was raining and she had crossed three of the four lanes on her way back towards work when the taxi smashed into her left side. Then the next thing she remembers is talking to a nurse on the high dependency ward, four or five days later.”

Stephen Hill, a lawyer with Fentons Solicitors LLP, added: “Although doctors have yet to determine the full extent of Shona’s injuries, she clearly faces a future of intensive rehabilitation and will need specialist medical care, help and assistance.

“If we are to secure the funds to help her family pay for that care, we need witnesses to come forward to help us piece together exactly what happened.”

Anyone who saw the collision is asked to call Amy Wilmott on 08448543132