Collision on the A40 leaves driver in critical condition
A SERIOUSLY injured driver has been cut free from the wreckage after a head-on crash near Cheltenham.
It took firefighters about an hour to free the 40-year-old man from his car on the A40 London Road in Dowdeswell.
The man's Mini Cooper was involved in a collision with a Volkswagen Sharan taxi, which had two young children as passengers. The injured driver from Cheltenham was airlifted to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol and was yesterday said to be in a critical condition. Police reported he suffered life-changing injuries. This included multiple lower leg fractures, including a broken thigh bone.
The collision took place near the Dowdeswell Reservoir and Koloshi restaurant at about 8.20am. The driver of the taxi, from Gloucester, and two boys, believed to be aged six and seven years old, were taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital with minor injuries.
Sunday and Monday evenings £12.00 per head for an all inclusive meal with Indian and Thai cuisine (normal price £14.50).
Bring this voucher to the restaurant complete with your name and email address on it.
Terms: Expires 31st July
Contact: 01452 223782
Valid until: Wednesday, July 31 2013
A section of the A40 remained closed for five hours as police cleared the scene. All traffic was diverted onto the A436 until about 1.45pm.
Police officers attended the scene alongside three fire engines and a rapid response vehicle from the Great Western Ambulance Service.
Kevin Dickins, the officer on the scene from the Great Western Ambulance Service, said: "The patient had really serious injuries. It was about getting the right resources and working with the police and fire service and making sure there was the right care at the scene."
The crash happened at the same spot of another head-on collision. On June 5 last year a 20-year-old woman from Cheltenham died in a crash.
Motorist Jennifer Taylor, from The Park, Cheltenham, was diverted after the collision yesterday. She also witnessed last year's crash.
She said: "I drive along that road everyday, and it has upset me so much. This has got to stop. That corner is a disaster. How many lives are going to be lost before something is done?"
Taxi company Three 2 One, which is based in Gloucester, confirmed the crash involved one of its vehicles. The company boss visited the taxi driver in hospital yesterday.
Anyone who witnessed the collision should call 101 quoting incident number 66 of November 20.
Comments
by TimMessanger
Saturday, December 01 2012, 8:36PM
“@tishwash - What has parking got to do with it?”
by tishwash
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 6:32PM
“it's double yellows and a head on collision, clearly someone was on the wrong side of the road, it's way too far from the junction to be the tail sliding out too.”
by FreeRadical1
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 5:27PM
“kxhost, do you have information that the rest of don't know about?”
by Dr_Hfrrrrr
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 2:23PM
“'I refuse to drive on the A40 since one of my colleagues was killed on it 10 years ago. It's a death trap'. Yes, quite right. I refuse to go to Germany because my grandfather was killed there. The country is a death trap. Admittedly it was 1944 and he was in a Lancaster bombing Dresden, but the theory is the same, right...?”
by kxhost
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 2:19PM
“Glad there were no fatalities, but seems like another typical taxi driver... don't think i've come across one in Cheltenham that has not been bullying other road users and speeding throughout... these idiots are dangerous and think they own the roads!!”
by Barney0123
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 1:44PM
“I hope all involved make a full recovery.
I would like to take this opportunity to THANK all the emergency services involved with both this accident and every other emergency they are involved with for all their help and support.
As for commennt made by .....
BUDALUB .... Can you not see there ARE DOUBLE WHITE LINES ALREADY THERE!!!!
Hamster11,..... My husband drives this Rd every day, I drive and ride up and down it regularly. However, I totally agree with you, there are too many drivers and riders for that matter that race up and down this road.
I reported a driver to their employer (Babage Builders) because of the way he was driving a few months back. Rd conditions were very bad, and he still tried to force me to go faster and then the numpty tried an over take at the bottom of the hill where the double white lines begin.”
by Mdolla
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 12:42PM
“I refuse to drive on the A40 since one of my colleagues was killed on it 10 years ago. It's a death trap.”
by hamster11
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 10:36AM
“I drive along this road a lot; there's nothing wrong with it. It's the numpties who drive like idiots who cause the problems. We're not talking about kids here but mature human beings in fast cars in a hurry to get wherever they are going. The funny thing is everytime I see one who risks not only their life but others with another high speed over-taking stunt over double white lines or on bends, 5 minutes later I catch up with them as they get caught behind another line of traffic. Incredible stupidity.
I'm not saying this was the case for the tragic accident reported above, they are just observations about drivers in general on this road.”
by TIMONLINE2010
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 10:11AM
“There are white lines Budalub!”
by yeayeayea1
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 10:10AM
“It may have been down to the three man hole covers which are right on the line of the wheels as you go around the bend towards Cheltenham. When they're wet they become very slippery and can make the back end of the car slip out if they are hit wrong.”