I was an eyewitness to a terrifying collision which took place in Croydon on the 1st of April at 15.44pm. A mother of 2 was travelling north on the A23, Purley Way as she planned to go into Wing Yip with her children. Exiting Halfords at this time was a 23 year old man who was turning right out of the car park in a maroon estate car.

The sound of shrieking brakes alerted all those on the Halfords forecourt to turn their attention to the road just as the impact was taking place. Several concerned citizens rushed to the woman’s aid whose children were sitting in the back seats on the side of the crash. A passer-by that was also in the parking lot of Halfords at that time, sprinted across the stunned traffic and removed the children from the car, picked them up and took them to the pavement opposite.

I instinctively dialled 999 immediately at the scene, as all involved were in shock from the incident and the children’s safety was of most concern. I was told to keep the passengers calm and reassure them that help was on its way.

Further concerns grew at this time as when describing the ferocity of the impact I relayed to the emergency services operator that a green liquid was leaking from one of the vehicles which could have potentially been petrol. Debris, broken glass and unrecognisable parts of the car stretched across two of the four lanes of traffic.

When speaking to the woman, who luckily avoided being hurt in this near fatal accident, she said ‘I’m not worried about myself, I just hope my children are okay. They are so young I don’t even think they understand what happened’.

This was her main worry as when asked to recall what had happened she expressed that ‘the car came out of nowhere. I wasn’t giving way to him, I don’t even know why he pulled out’.

The gentleman involved did not wish to comment on the incident.

Monifa Bobb-Simon

Reigate College