A care home worker, who was five months pregnant, lost her unborn baby boy after she was “thrown into the air” by a hit-and-run collision, a court has heard.

Renju Joseph, 31, was struck by a car driven at high speed by Ashir Shahid, 20, as she walked on a pedestrian crossing in the village of Bamber Bridge in Lancashire.

The Toyota Prius was estimated to be travelling at between 58mph and 71mph in wet conditions in a 30mph zone, Preston Crown Court heard.

Mrs Joseph was rushed to hospital from the scene in Station Road in the early evening of 29 September for treatment to head and spinal injuries.

Prosecutor Emma Keogh said: “It also became apparent that the life of her unborn child was in severe jeopardy."

“An emergency C-section had to be carried out in an attempt to save the unbor

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