Women in horror crash with ailing pensioner demand law change
Aftermath of the head-on crash in Horsham, West Sussex, that left all three involved hospitalised. (SWNS)
Two women who suffered serious injuries from a car crash with a pensioner are calling for more “vigorous” checks for ailing drivers.
Anne Rance, 55, and Lucy Wyles, 23, both required emergency surgery following the head-on collision in December 2021.
The 79-year-old driver of the other vehicle, who is understood to have had a declining mental capacity at the time of the crash, also survived.
The pair are now campaigning to get the rules around disclosing health conditions to the DVLA changed.
Currently, drivers are expected to notify the agency about any issues and can be fined if this doesn’t happen. Doctors can also disclose information about patients if they deem it to be in the public interest.
But Rance and Wyles are calling for more scrutiny in the system – claiming it is too easy for people to fall through the cracks.
Anne Rance is now spearheading a campaign to get the rules around disclosing health conditions to the DVLA changed. (SWNS)
Rance said: “The accident was caused by a person who should never have been allowed behind the wheel of a car.
“We want to stop anything like this happening to anyone else.”
Rance and Wyles, her son’s girlfriend, were driving on the A24 near Horsham, West Sussex in December 2021 when an oncoming car veered on to their side of the road at 70mph, they say.
The vehicles collided – leaving all three people involved injured.
Wyles, who was driving, was knocked unconscious and eventually came round in the hospital.
Her arm was shattered, she had a pelvis fracture, blood clots and facial damage, while Rance suffered a bowel perforation and other various fractures.
Both required major surgery and Rance has been unable to return to her jobs as a cleaner and hairdresser because of an injury to her wrist.
Wyles had to relearn to walk.
Lucy Wyles was knocked unconscious, her arm was shattered, she had a pelvis fracture, blood clots and facial damage as a result of the collision. (SWNS)
Lucy Wyles, 22, needed emergency surgery as a result of her injuries. (SWNS)
Rance said: “Lucy was driving, everything was fine – and then I just saw a sudden flash. It was a head-on collision.
“I didn’t pass out, but she was out cold, and the car was crumpled up against the side of the road.
“I started panicking, and as soon as I got out of the car, I collapsed to the floor.
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“My injuries were more internal, and I suffered perforations of the bowels – leaving me in need of emergency surgery which has left me with long-term health issues.
“Lucy’s injuries were worse, and parts of her arm bone were spread across the road from where it shattered on impact.
“And her pelvis fracture means she’s had to relearn to walk – it’s been a long road to recovery for us both.”
A x-ray showing more of Lucy Wyles’ injuries. (SWNS)