A PIZZA shop owner has today described how he "watched in horror" as a customer fell victim to a serious car accident - just moments after they had enjoyed a laugh and a joke in his shop.

A PIZZA shop owner has today described how he "watched in horror" as a customer fell victim to a serious car accident - just moments after they had enjoyed a laugh and a joke in his shop.

Ayman Nagib, owner of Milano Pizzeria, on Norwich Road, Ipswich, witnessed a teenager suffer serious head injuries in an accident in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Mr Nagib had served the man a pizza just minutes before the accident outside the shop - shortly after 3.10am.

Mr Nagib, 36, has owned the shop for four years. He said: "I was working and he came in with his two friends, both males, about five minutes before it all happened.

"He use to be a regular customer and because I hadn't seen him for a while I spoke to him for ten minutes or so and we shared a joke.

"When he left my shop he crossed the road safely but for some reason he decided to cross back again suddenly.

"As far as I could tell the car went past at normal speed.

"The driver tried to avoid him but it was too close and the collision was hard.

"He seemed to go flying and came down on his head but I could only watch on in horror.

"I called the ambulance and ran outside to try and help but it was not nice to see. I was quite scared.

"I stayed at the shop until about 4am and didn't sleep very well when I got home. I was probably in shock."

The victim, in his late teens and from the Ipswich area, was taken to Ipswich Hospital with head injuries. His condition was described as stable.

The driver of the vehicle - a blue Toyota MR2 - escaped injury. Norwich Road remained closed for nearly four hours.

Do you know the teenager involved in the accident? Did you witness the accident? Contact The Evening Star newsdesk on 01473 324789 or email starnews@eveningstar.co.uk