A TWENTY-YEAR-OLD man who broke his back in a horror crash has said he believes his actions may have saved the life of the driver who ran him off the road.
A TWENTY-YEAR-OLD man who broke his back in a horror crash has said he believes his actions may have saved the life of the driver who ran him off the road.
James Hunt was behind the wheel of a Mini Cooper when he was overtaken by a silver hatchback vehicle, which then cut back in front of him.
This forced him to veer into the grass verge, before rebounding on to the opposite side of the road and into the path of an oncoming minibus.
Although a number of witnesses stopped immediately after the crash, which happened at 2.10pm on Easter Sunday, in Birchwood Road, Dedham, the hatchback driver sped off.
Speaking from his hospital bed, Mr Hunt last night joined his mother, Lesley, and stepfather, Kevin Findlay, in appealing for the motorist involved in the crash to contact police.
He said: “It would obviously help if he came forward.
“If I didn't do what I did and pull off the road, then the driver of the hatchback would be dead.
“I can't believe he drove off after I did that. I would've been in no danger if I had carried on going. That's what I've been told anyway. I remember nothing about the actual accident.”
Mr Hunt, who was thrown from his vehicle as a result of the impact, will spend at the least the next six weeks lying on his back in Colchester General Hospital, then a further period wearing a brace.
Doctors are continuing to carry out tests on his injuries as they try to work out the best way to treat his back, which was broken in three places.
Mr Hunt, who enjoys playing tennis, squash and going to the gym, said: “I'm doing ok but it's just a case of bed-rest. Tuesday was pretty bad as I was in quite a lot of pain.
“I'm not looking forward to the next six weeks. I can't actually move - that's the most annoying thing as I don't like sitting still.”
The driver of the hatchback was described as a man of large build and the female passenger was a blonde woman.
The occupants of the vehicle, or anyone else with information about the crash, are asked to contact Stanway road policing unit on 01206 762512.
mark.bulstrode@eadt.co.uk
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