A “devastated” family torn apart by a hit-and-run driver had previously complained to the council about the junction where a grandma and two young children were hit.
Khalida Bibi, 57, broke both her legs, two ribs and suffered head injuries when she was mown down by a blue Ford Focus at a traffic island in front of her home in Central Park Road, East Ham.
The mum-of five was thrown four metres down the street and into a bollard on Thursday, just before 3pm, after a car pulled out at speed from Hatherley Gardens.
She had been walking with five of her grandchildren and underwent surgery on Monday afternoon in the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel.
“It’s just terrible what happened, I don’t even have the words,” said Mrs Bibi’s son Zubair Shan, 34.
“We’re all shocked and devastated at what’s happened – it’s tearing our family apart.
“I’ve complained to the council before about that junction but absolutely nothing has ever been done about it. We knew something like this could happen.”
Cllr Obaid Khan added: “In the best interests of residents this junction needs sorting out.”
An 11-year-old grandson broke his nose while a 10-year-old granddaughter suffered bruising and scratching in the crash – both children have since been discharged from hospital.
After hitting the group, the car careered into a tree before two men got out and fled the scene on foot.
Zubair’s brother Asad has spent most of his time at his mum’s hospital bedside and wants to see the “lunatics” involved put behind bars.
“I’m just in shock,” he said. “It’s probably one of the worst things I have ever seen in my life.
“If they had even an ounce of humanity they would not have run away, it’s as simple as that.
“I don’t know how they are able to sleep at night. They need to be locked up and taught a lesson so we can keep lunatics like this off the streets.
“For us it’s just a miracle that we still have our mum with us.”
No arrests have been made and detectives from the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command are still investigating.
A Newham Council spokeswoman said: “Firstly our thoughts at this time are with Mrs Bibi and her grandchildren and we wish them all a speedy recovery.
“Newham Council was already reviewing the layout of the junction at Hatherley Gardens and Central Park Road in East Ham before this horrible incident.
“We are considering a new scheme to address the safety of the junction, and we have been working with utility companies, who have equipment in the area, to find the best solution.” Anyone with information should contact officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 020 8597 4874.
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