Alessia Boschiazzo Photo: Facebook

A 14-year-old girl who is fighting for her life after being knocked down by a hit-and-run driver is a talented dancer who had been offered a place at the renowned Brit school in Croydon.

The victim, who has now been identified as Alessia Boschiazzo, was on her way to visit friends when she was hit by a speeding car as she crossed Marland Road, Croydon,at 7pm last Friday.  Her body was catapulted across the road, and a car was seen accelerating away from the scene.

The teenager, who attends Ursuline High School in Wimbledon and is set to take up a place at the Brits Academy of Arts in Croydon, was treated at the scene for more than an hour before she was taken to the hospital.

She suffered from serious head injuries and remains in intensive care.

The driver of the car, which was a green Renault Clio, is said to be a white male in his twenties, with short hair. Soon after the collision, police found his burnt-out vehicle in a nearby street. Police are still searching for the driver.

Iain Beaton, who works at Classic Automobiles in Morland Road, said: “I heard a noise and looked out of the window. It was like an explosion.”

The footage, captured on CCTV cameras by Beaton’s garage,  shows the vehicle change direction to avoid Alessia and then spin again, before driving away at high speed towards Norwood Junction.

Louise Lister, the director of No Limit Dance and Arts Company, where Alessia trained as a dancer, said: “She is one of the most beautiful and talented girls I have ever met.

“She is intelligent and does not deserve this. I hope they catch whichever cold-hearted person did this.”

Her parents, Aldo and Celilia Boschiazzo, said: “Our daughter is a beautiful, happy, active and fun-loving teenager. She is a lover of dance, at which she is very talented.

“We continued to pray for her quick recovery so that she is able to dance and be herself once more. We are asking the public to help the police in any way they can.”

Relatives said the couple have not left their daughter’s bedside since the accident. Alessia’s aunt Fabiolia Boschiazzo said: “The doctors are waiting for the pressure on her brain to go down. She is sedated but they have said she may be woken up on Friday.”

Anyone with information that may assist police should call the witness line on 020 8285 1574 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.