A SOUTHWICK teenager has been left with a serious eye injury following a hit-and-run on Christmas Day.
The 16-year-old boy was the front-seat passenger in a taxi when it was in collision with a car shortly after 11pm.
The silver Vauxhall Insignia saloon sped off from the scene, at the traffic light controlled junction of Church Road and Sackville Road, and witnesses are now being sought by police.
The teenager suffered head injuries, which included fragments of glass entering his right eye. The taxi driver, also from Southwick, suffered whiplash injuries.
Both casualties were taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, by ambulance.
The blue Skoda Octavia taxi was travelling west along Church Road when the silver Vauxhall Insignia saloon, travelling north along Sackville Road, collided with its nearside. The taxi went out of control and mounted a pavement.
Sussex Police said: “A passenger briefly stepped out of the Vauxhall and looked into the taxi, but then got back into the car which left the scene.
“It is likely to have sustained significant frontal damage in the collision.
“Officers investigating the incident are keen to speak to anyone who saw what happened or who has any other information, particularly sightings of a badly-damaged silver Vauxhall Insignia in the Hove area.”
Call Sussex Police on 101 or email collision.appeal@sussex.pnn.police.uk, quoting serial 1196 of 25/12 with information.