'Car seatbelt saved my life'
A young woman who survived a crash in which her car somersaulted over a stone wall has spoken of the accident.
Toni Bass said her seatbelt saved her life when her Citroen Picasso crashed on the road between Warren Hills and Copt Oak, near Coalville.
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scene: Toni Bass's car on the road between Warren Hills and Copt Oak, near Coalville
The accident happened in sub-zero temperatures and blinding snow, at about 3pm on Monday.
As she got to the brow of the hill, wind whipped snow across the road in a blizzard, in temperatures of -8C, making it impossible for her to see.
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As the 25-year-old was looking for a lay-by to pull into, she was in a collision with a car coming in the opposite direction.
Her car flipped over the low dry-stone wall, ending upright in a field next to the road.
Ms Bass said she managed to clamber out of her car and walk back up to the road where a number of car drivers, who had witnessed the incident had stopped, to see if they could help.
A kindly woman driver invited her into her car to get out of the biting wind.
Paramedics who arrived discovered she was suffering from neck pain and said they might have to cut the roof off the car where she had taken sanctuary to get her out on a spinal board.
Fortunately, firefighters from Coalville arrived and were able to take out the back seats and cut off the passenger seat headrest before slipping a spine board under her.
Toni, who is unemployed because of a long-term illness, said: "I had come out of Greenhill Road and as I got to the brow of the hill there was a complete wipe-out.
"The wind had caused a blizzard and you could barely make out headlights.
"The driver's side was crushed in but I managed to climb out grabbing my phone to call my fiance, Ian.
"A row of cars had stopped on the road and one lady invited me into her's to get out of the cold, it was -8C.
"When the paramedics arrived, I told them I had pain in my neck.
"They were talking about cutting the roof off the lady's car to get me out on a spine board.
"I said 'please don't cut the roof off the lady's car'. She was just trying to get me in out of the cold.
"Luckily, when the firemen arrived they were able to take the back seats out, although they had to cut the headrest off the passenger seat, before sliding the spine board under me.
"If it wasn't for the seatbelt I wouldn't be here.
"I'm lucky to be alive and I just want to thank the emergency services."
She discharged herself after treatment at Leicester Royal Infirmary.
Comments
by lufbraboy
Friday, March 15 2013, 9:39AM
“People do still walk around with broken necks and backs after an accident.all it takes is a small knock or movement to leave them in a wheelchair. The shock of an accident will mask any pain until the shock wears off”