Schoolgirl hit by a car in Sebastopol, Ballarat The girl is flown to the Royal Children's Hospital. Picture: Ian Wilson Source: Supplied A TEENAGE girl is lucky to be alive after being hit by a car in a freak accident as she waited on the footpath to be picked up for school in Ballarat. The 16-year-old girl suffered leg and head injuries and is in a serious condition in Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital. She was waiting to be picked up by a friend for school on the corner of Rowlands and Vickers streets in Sebastopol when she was struck about 8.30am. Police said the driver who was picking her up was conducting a right turn into the girl's street to get her when a vehicle travelling behind has attempted to overtake. The second car has then swerved, mounting the kerb and running over the girl, before slamming into the side of a brick house. The crash also caused damage to a house. Picture: Ian Wilson Paramedics treated the girl at the scene before an air ambulance flew her to Melbourne. The incident comes on the same day police warned drivers to slow down and be more cautious as hundreds of thousands of children dust off their lunch boxes and put on their uniforms to go back to school. State Highway Patrol Inspector Simon Humphrey said drivers should be extra cautious when travelling through the reduced 40km/h and 60km/h school speed zone areas. "Children can be unpredictable and drivers need to be aware of this," he said. The girl is loaded into the air ambulance. They're excited about seeing their friends again and sharing stories about what they did on the school holidays. Unfortunately this excitement can lead to distraction when crossing the road or walking near parked cars. It's important for drivers to avoid distraction and drive safely in school zones. Inspector Humphrey said police were running a number of operations in school zones across the state and would be cracking down on those caught doing the wrong thing. "The 40km/h speed signs are not advisory, they are mandatory," he said. If you speed, receiving a fine is the least of your worries. Far worse is the possibility of killing or seriously injuring a young child. So please slow down and do the right thing - running late is nothing compared to the heartache of hitting a person. Consider this as a warning, because if we pull you over, we won't be accepting any excuses. Reduced speed limits are in force in school zones from 8am to 9.30am and again from 2.30pm to 4pm.