A44 Cotheridge crash on black ice: teen’s ‘miracle escape’
'Cautious driver' Abbie Leather skidded into a truck travelling in the opposite direction during the head-on crash on the A44 at Cotheridge, near Worcester.SCARY: The aftermath of the crash on the A44 near Cotheridge (Image: Supplied by family) The 19-year-old from Callow End near Worcester suffered only minor injuries during the incident at 7.10am on Wednesday, December 6 but her car has been described as a 'write-off'. She was driving at no more than 30mph and was slowing down to negotiate the slight bend when the crash happened.
Now her family wants answers because they say the road had not been gritted - however, Worcestershire County Council insist the road was treated. Miss Leather said: "I am so thankful to still be alive and thank goodness there are some lovely people in this world willing to help. "Please get something sorted with this road, so no one has to go through what I did."
The student who wants to teach children with special educational needs, was driving along the dark country road to work at Brockhampton Primary School when she skidded in her Hyundai i10. MIRACLE: Abbie Leather, 19, said she was 'thankful to still be alive' after the crash on the A44 near Cotheridge (Image: Supplied by family) Her mum Tracy Walsh said: "It is a miracle she is still alive.
"I'm so glad she is still here but also livid as this wasn't her fault and she could have lost her life. "Yesterday I don't think it sank in but the reality is beginning to hit. It's so shocking."
RECOMMENDED READING: Van crashes through railings on Whittington roundabout[1] RECOMMENDED READING: M42 traffic delays caused by police incident - updates[2] WRECK: Both air bags were activated in the crash in the Hyundai i10 on the A44 (Image: Supplied by family)
Miss Leather suffered a bruised and swollen knee. Her mum and partner took her to the Minor Injuries Unit at Malvern Community Hospital. Both airbags were deployed and the windscreen was smashed.
DEBRIS: The debris left in the wake of the A44 crash near Cotheridge which left the Hyundai i10 a 'write-off' (Image: Supplied) "She hit the truck face-on and the corner of the truck as spun her car 360 degrees into the grass verge. The front of the car is concertinaed," said Ms Walsh.
A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: "We responded to a two-vehicle collision involving a car and a flatbed lorry on the A44 in Broadwas, Worcestershire. No injuries were reported." Councillor Mike Rouse, Worcestershire County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said gritters were out, across the county on the evening of December 5 including along the whole of the A44 in Cotheridge.
"At 7am on December 6, all of our sensors showed salt still present on the roads.
"Gritting roads does go a long way to making roads safer to drive on in wintery conditions, but routes will always be more hazardous to travel on when the temperatures drop, especially when the roads are wet as a result of recent rainfall, or surface water runoff.
"So, I'd remind everyone to ensure that they drive to road conditions, especially at this time of year when the weather can change very quickly."
References
- ^ RECOMMENDED READING: Van crashes through railings on Whittington roundabout (www.worcesternews.co.uk)
- ^ RECOMMENDED READING: M42 traffic delays caused by police incident - updates (www.worcesternews.co.uk)