Chippenham pensioner hurt in bike collision (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
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Chippenham pensioner hurt in bike collision
3:50pm Thursday 16th February 2012 in News
PCSOs Emma Bird, left, and Toni Brown by Clift House
Grandmother Gwen Hyfield was today still in a serious condition after being in collision with a motorbike in Chippenham, just yards from her home.
Mrs Hyfield, 83, a keen walker who lives in retirement property Clift House in Langley Road, was trying to cross the road when the accident happened just after 6pm on Monday.
She was airlifted to hospital suffering from head and pelvic injuries, as well as broken bones.
The motorcyclist was also taken to Swindon’s Great Western Hospital, but with minor injuries.
Wiltshire councillor Chris Caswill, whose ward covers the area, said the road was dangerous as there is no pavement along the stretch where Mrs Hyfield, a grandmother of seven, was hurt.
He said the issue had been brought to his attention by a resident of Clift House.
“There is no pavement outside Clift House – you must cross the road to walk into the town,” said Coun Caswill.
“I raised this issue with the council some months ago, and it is on the agenda to be discussed at the community area transport committee meeting on Monday, but sadly it is too late as a lady has now been hurt.”
Mrs Hyfield’s sister-in-law June Lait, who also lives at Clift House, said the road is dangerous and residents struggle to cross it safely.
“At night you’ve got no chance of getting across it safely,” she said.
“It is a real worry for many of the residents.”
Another Clift House resident, who asked not to be named, has been campaigning to make the road safer for more than two years.
She said: “I am full of horror and disgust that this could have happened. It was an accident waiting to happen.”
The resident said the road is also dangerous for the five people living in Clift House who own mobility scooters.
Police are appealing to witnesses to the incident to come forward. PCSOs Emma Bird and Toni Brown urged them to contact Wiltshire Police by dialling 101.
