A YOUNG woman was left with serious head injuries after being hit by a car just yards from where a crash claimed the life of a popular pensioner two years ago.

Rush hour traffic was left at a standstill in South Woodford last night (Monday) after the 30-year-old - who was apparently jogging at the time - was knocked down while trying to cross the High Road near a pedestrian crossing opposite Bunces Lane.

The road was shut for five hours after the accident, which took place at about 7pm on the same stretch of road where popular boxing coach Norman Yearley was fatally injured in January 2008.

Nick Withington, manager of nearby Physicals gym, was one of the first on the scene after yesterday's crash - as he was when Mr Yearley was killed - and said the accident brought back painful memories of his former colleague's death.

He said: "It was obviously a tragic reminder of what happened to Norman.

"The police asked me and the assistant manager to come out and try to identify the woman, in case she was a member of the gym, but I didn't recognise her.

"It would be good to see them make the area near the crossing safer, maybe by making the lighting better or introducing a 20mph limit. We've had two serious accidents here now.

"It's unclear really what happened before the woman was hit."

Witnesses say a small blue car - possibly a Fiesta - was left at the scene of the crash with a smashed windscreen on the driver's side.

The woman was eventually taken to the Royal London Hospital, in Whitechapel, where she remains. Her condition has not be released.

The crash has prompted calls for a speed camera near the scene of the accident to be moved further up the hill to encourage drivers to slow down before getting to the pedestrian crossing.

Michael Nathanson of nearby Forest Approach, said: "People come speeding along here and only slow down when they get near the camera.

"If the camera was the other side of the crossing it would be alot safer."

Wendy O'Sullivan, joint manager of The Cricketers pub, located just yards away from the accident, agreed.

She said: "Some drivers don't even stop when someone is about to cross at the crossing.

"Moving the camera might work."

Anyone with information about the accident should call Ilford police station on: 8478 1123.