Pensioner injured in scooter collision (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Pensioner injured in scooter collision

8:10am Wednesday 2nd May 2007 in Swindon By Gazette Reporter

A man in his 70s suffered serious head injuries when his electric mobility scooter was involved in a collision with a Ford recovery vehicle yesterday.

The accident happened at 2.25pm on the B4143 Bridgend Road, near to the junction with Swindon Road.

The pensioner, who lives in Swindon, was taken to the Great Western Hospital.

PC Marcus Beresford-Smith said: "The accident will be fully investigated and we would like to appeal for witnesses."

Customers having lunch at the Dockle Farmhouse pub across the road rushed to help the injured man and called the emergency services.

Daniel McKenna, 23, said: "As soon as we heard the impact, we ran straight over there. I saw the old man about six feet away from where his vehicle lay."

"The truck is probably about 10 tonnes. It was horrible. I just wanted to help him and kept thinking that is someone's dad or grandad. I was shaking."

Mr McKenna and his friend Phil Wells, 19, put the injured man in the recovery position while they waited for the ambulance crew.

Mr Wells said: "He had a serious knock to the head and was drifting in an out of consciousness."

Rebecca Pearce, 27, phoned an ambulance when she heard the noise of the crash. "I heard the crunch of the mobility vehicle going under the tyres and heard someone shout woah, woah'."

"The man was bleeding from his nose and head. He was lying in the middle of the road and his mobility vehicle was under the tyres.

"Four of us were on our phones trying to get through to an ambulance. Everyone was trying to help. The truck driver must be really shaken. I don't think anyone spoke to him."

The Titcombes recovery vehicle was taken to the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency for examination and Bridge End Road reopened at 5.40pm.

Any witnesses should call PC Penny at the Swindon Road Policing Unit on 0845 408 7000.