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Family's despair as son fights for life in hospital
The family of a popular musician left fighting for his life after being hit by a car say they are praying he makes a full recovery.
Steven Jones stepped out in front of a car travelling at 40mph on the busy Mile End Road, Portsmouth.
The 41-year-old, who is described as one the best banjo players in Portsmouth, suffered a fractured skull, three breaks in his right arm, a broken ankle and internal bleeding following the accident on Monday morning.
He was taken to the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham where he was put into a drug-induced coma.
Mr Jones has since undergone hours of emergency surgery.
His father David Jones, also a keen musician, said his son was in a 'bad way' but remains positive he can make a full recovery.
'He's undergoing a major operation, we're just hoping for good news on that,' said the 66-year-old, of Monmouth Road, North End.
'The police phoned me at work and told me what had happened.
'He's in a bad way but I hope he can come out of this.
'I feel positive, he's in good hands at QA. It's a good hospital, it's brand new and has wonderful people working there, they're so helpful.'
Dad David is now hoping his son, who has played gigs with local bluegrass band Slim Pickings and is well-known for busking along Albert Road in Southsea, can play the banjo again.
'He plays banjo mostly but also plays guitar and slide guitar.
'The thing is whether he'll be able to play again with his right arm so badly broken,' he said.
Mum Gwen Jones, 68, added: 'The police phoned me - it was a big shock. It's the last thing you expect to hear.
'He's due to undergo an operation, we've just got to hope and pray that he pulls through that.'
Meanwhile, police have spoken to two men said to have been with Steven when he stepped out in to the busy road near to the Market Tavern pub at about 10.30am on Monday.
Originally it was thought the men had left the scene to avoid police.
But they have since come forward to tell officers they were not with Mr Jones, as was suggested by a witness to the crash.
Acting Sergeant Scott Davison urged pedestrians to avoid crossing Mile End Road at that spot.
'Unfortunately, this is not the first time pedestrians have attempted to cross this section of road and received very serious injuries as a result,' he said.
'Despite a nearby subway, linking the east and west sides of this road, people continue to risk their lives and that of others by crossing this hazardous section of road.'
The 55-year-old woman driver of the Vauxhall Corsa, from Waterlooville, was unhurt.
No action has been taken against her.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
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Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
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