Calls for A257 safety measures between Canterbury and Sandwich backed by Wingham Country Market owner left in coma after crash
It should have been a normal working day for Richard Dyer as he delivered goods to his garden centre in his tractor. But as he turned into the entrance, an overtaking 20-tonne tipper truck ploughed into him, hurling him into the road.
Following the crash on the A257, which runs between Canterbury and Sandwich, Richard was left with horrific injuries, including a fractured skull, leaving him in a coma[1] for seven weeks. The truck driver later pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving a vehicle while unfit through drugs and received a suspended prison sentence[2].
It was a nightmare ordeal for Richard's family, but five years on, the father-of-two has made a miraculous recovery. The 55-year-old has recovered beyond anyone's expectations - and is back at work at Wingham Country Market, which he runs with his wife Annette. She told KentOnline: "It's been far better than we were told and could have hoped for.
"But it was hard for a long time.
Richard was in hospital for more than three months and I was still trying to run the business. "I must have visited him in hospital at least 40 times and when he eventually came out of his coma, he had very little awareness and was semi-paralysed down one side.
"Even when he came home, he needed a lot of support like physio, but very gradually he made amazing progress and to see how he is now is something of a miracle." The couple, who took on the garden centre business with her parents 34 years ago, have a constant reminder of how treacherous the A257, on the outskirts of Wingham, is.
"We and our customers see incidents pretty much every week," said Annette.
"There's dangerous overtaking and motorbikes doing wheelies, so I fear it's only a matter of time before another serious one. "The problem is that the road is so straight and long that the temptation is to speed and overtake slower vehicles." Richard and Annette are now backing a campaign for extra road safety measures on the A257.
Annette said: "We don't want anyone else to go through what we have, as well as the families who have lost loved ones. "We fear it's only a matter of time before there's another tragedy."
The stretch, called the Roman Road, has an appalling accident record.
According to statistics being highlighted by the campaigning A257 Action Group, there have been three fatalities, 10 serious injury accidents and dozens more collisions and near misses in the last six years. Campaigners say the long straight road encourages drivers into dangerous overtaking manoeuvres, like the one that resulted in Mr Dyer's accident.
The group, founded in 2010 to bring about safety measures along the whole stretch of the A-road from Sandwich to Canterbury, is now targeting the Roman Road in a new effort. Also known locally as the Shatterling straight, it stretches for four miles between the Ash bypass and Wingham.
It passes not just the Wingham Country Market but also Wingham Wildlife Park, as well as many narrow side roads.
But it is the arrow straightness of the long 50mph stretch that encourages overtaking, sometimes with catastrophic outcomes. The petition says: "Too many people have been killed or seriously injured on this stretch of road between the Sandwich roundabout and Gobery Hill, Wingham.
"Drivers go too fast or carry out dangerous overtaking manoeuvres daily, with sometimes devastating consequences and pedestrians have been knocked off their feet as vehicles pass too close through Shatterling, causing a suction effect. "The unacceptably high level of collisions should be subject to Kent County Council's 'Vision Zero' strategy aimed at reducing fatalities and life-changing injuries on Kent's roads to zero by 2050."
Their campaign calls for a cut in speed limit from 50mph to 40mph and, most importantly, solid double white lines through the hamlet of Shatterling to discourage overtaking.
Group chairman Bryan Curtis adds: "It is time for KCC Highways to act on what residents, businesses, parish councils and users of this stretch of road have been requesting for years - to make changes that will improve road safety for everyone. "We have the backing of our MP, Sir Roger Gale, county councillors and our Kent Police Neighbourhood Beat Officer, PC Jon Bowler, and I'm urging everyone to sign this petition."
To gain progress, the petition, which runs until August 19, needs at least 750 signatures to trigger a debate at the most appropriate local council meeting, likely the Joint Transportation Board. But it needs 5,000 signatures to be debated at county council level.
The petition can be signed here[3].
For now, Richard and Annette, who celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary in August, and their two sons, Michael and Sam, are grateful that he pulled through and has recovered so well. Richard said: "I'm not completely where I used to be and have lost the hearing in one ear, but I'm grateful for what I have."
The couple are also thankful for the huge support they received following the accident from friends, customers and local farmers who helped them keep their business going.
"Everyone was so kind, but one of the biggest boosts was our sons Michael and Sam joining the family business when they might have pursued other careers.
"They stepped in for Richard while he recovered and now it's great that they will continue with us in the future."
References
- ^ leaving him in a coma (premium.kentonline.co.uk)
- ^ received a suspended prison sentence (premium.kentonline.co.uk)
- ^ petition can be signed here (democracy.kent.gov.uk)