Mum’s horror after ‘BMW rolls into road’ with baby inside
A family who cheated death have spoken of their horror after surviving a shocking crash in Staffordshire[1]. Sara-Jayne Baskeyfield was in a BMW i3 with her 10-month-old daughter Wren and mother-in-law Nicola Baskeyfield.
But they were left terrified when the vehicle inexplicably started to move. Nicola slammed on the brakes but the car continued to move.
The electric-petrol hybrid rolled into the street, where a collision then occurred. A Corsa collided with the family's BMW, sending them spinning into trees on the grass verge.
Sara-Jayne needed an operation to treat serious injuries to her shoulder. The 21-year-old was in the front passenger seat at the time, StokeonTrentLive reports[3].
Nicola, 48, suffered a hand injury, while baby Wren was unhurt. The child was in her car seat when the vehicle travelled into Liverpool Road.
Injuries to her arm (Image: Sara-Jayne Baskeyfield)
Sara-Jayne, who lives in Packmoor with husband Owen, 22, said: "I’ve got pins and plates in my arm now and have to have physiotherapy. I’ve been told I will never have the full extent of the use of my arm again."
Her injuries were described by police as 'neither life-threatening nor life-changing'. But she has been unable to go back to her job as a school support assistant for children with special needs.
The mum now fears her injuries could have been far more serious if the collision had involved a bigger vehicle such as a lorry. The family had popped into Stonebank Stores, Kidsgrove, to buy some groceries when the horror crash on the busy road took place.
They were about to leave the car park when the car started moving. Sara-Jayne said: "I said to my mother-in-law I feel like we’re rolling, and the next thing we’d rolled into the traffic.
"The car was hit on the driver’s side, which spun us and sent us back up the hill and into a tree. My door was wedged shut so I couldn’t get out and I couldn’t move my arm. I was more worried about the little one but thankfully she was fine."
Firefighters cut Sara-Jayne's jumper off before she was take to Royal Stoke University Hospital.[4] Sara-Jayne added: "I’d broken my humerus right up to my shoulder. And they said when they did the operation, they found loads of little fractures inside."
When the BMW was examined, mechanics found 'wires that were not connected' underneath the vehicle, Sara-Jayne claimed. But she said it has not been established what caused the car to roll forward.
Sara-Jayne with husband Owen and baby Wren (Image: Sara-Jayne Baskeyfield)
A BMW UK spokesman said the firm had been unable to find a record of the case and so would not be able to assist with the investigation. The spokesman added: "Safety remains our utmost priority at BMW and we are committed to ensuring that our vehicles adhere to the highest standards.
"We encourage any customers with concerns about their vehicle to contact our dedicated customer care team directly." The crash took place at about 3.30pm on February 20.
Staffordshire Police[5] said: "On arrival, a white BMW was found in collision with a tree. A woman in her 20s, who was a passenger in the BMW was treated at the scene for shoulder injuries and taken to hospital for treatment.
"Her injuries are neither life-threatening nor life-changing. No one else was reported injured. We left the scene a short time later."
West Midlands Ambulance Service said an ambulance, paramedic officer and the Midland Air Ambulance Critical Care Car were dispatched to the scene. A spokeswoman said: "On arrival, crews discovered one patient, a woman, with minor injuries.
"She was treated by ambulance staff at the scene before being taken to Royal Stoke Hospital for further treatment."
References
- ^ Staffordshire (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Learner driver jumped out of moving car after 70mph police chase in Wolverhampton (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ StokeonTrentLive reports (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Royal Stoke University Hospital. (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Staffordshire Police (www.birminghammail.co.uk)