A 21-year-old York man suffered head injuries after he was thrown 25 feet in a collision with a 7.5 tonne van.

Jonathan Barker, of Tang Hall, was rushed to York Hospital after the accident at a pedestrian crossing on Foss Islands Road at 3.15pm yesterday.

Charlotte Wilkinson, 17, of Fulford, and Dale Barrington, 19, of York, who are friends of Mr Barker, saw the incident.

"We were crossing the road about three feet in front of him," said Mr Barrington.

"There was no traffic at all. Then we saw this white van. He stepped into the road and it hit him. "

Miss Wilkinson said: "He couldn't move and wasn't speaking." The pair said the force of the impact threw Mr Barker 25 feet along the road.

Police officers had drawn yellow chalk circles around pieces of debris on the tarmac.

TC Steve Earnshaw said: "A collision has occurred between a local male and a seven-and-a-half tonne HGV. The collision occurred in the centre of the road at a crossing point. Police are investigating."

TC Earnshaw said the seriousness of Mr Barker's head injuries were unknown, but he was conscious when the ambulance arrived. The vehicle involved was a white X registration Renault van.

Updated: 10:38 Friday, August 27, 2004