Woman in crash told partner ‘sorry you’re going to see me die’

A man raced to the scene of an accident that involved his partner, only for her to heartbreakingly tell him she was "sorry that you're going to see me die". Sarah Archer, 35, was driving home after picking her car up from its MOT when she was involved in a head-on collision with a camper van.

The hotel manager was being followed by partner Innes Watson, 38, who witnessed the horrifying crash before realising Sarah's car was involved. He pulled over and rushed to the scene to help those involved when he realised it was Sarah's wrecked Vauxhall, reports the Daily Record^[1]. The car's bonnet had smashed into her windscreen and debris from both vehicles was scattered across the road in the Scottish Highlands following the crash on July 30.

Innes said: "I couldn't quite see what was happening when I first pulled up. There were a lot of people there and someone had called the emergency services.

"But then I realised one of the car's was Sarah's. I could see how bad the wreckage was and my first thought was that she might be dead.

"Then I saw her lying on the ground. She was in a bad way and she was screaming, but I only felt relief because I knew she was alive. "I stayed by her side, but I kept her looking at her injuries. Time just seemed to stand still while we waited for help to arrive.

"Then at one point Sarah said: 'I'm really sorry that you're going to see me die'. It was a hellish experience."

Sarah was airlifted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness and underwent emergency 10-hour surgery to repair a broken right foot, shattered kneecaps, broken ribs, two broken wrists and multiple fingers.

Recalling the aftermath of the crash she said: "I came to and looked at my hands. They were completely mangled. But I could hear hissing coming from the car, so I somehow managed to undo my seatbelt and get out.

"As soon as I stood up, I felt my knees break. I just collapsed to the ground. Then all I could feel was pain."

Medics have warned Sarah she will have long-term mobility issues and that she may never regain full use of her hands.

She continued: "My right leg is still in a brace for now. My wrists were manipulated during surgery, but I've been told I may have to get them fused, which means I won't be able to use my hands and won't be able to write. It's life-changing and the doctors told me it's a miracle I survived."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We received a report of a crash involving a van and a car on the A890 near Auchtertyre around 2.30pm on Sunday, July 30. Two people were taken to hospital for treatment.

“A 36-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with a road traffic offence. He is due to appear at Inverness Sheriff Court at a later date.”

A fundraiser^[2] has been set up to help Sarah financially.

References

1. ^{^} reports the Daily Record (www.dailyrecord.co.uk)
2. ^{^} fundraiser (www.gofundme.com)