Dad calls for better signs after serious crash (From Daily Echo)

Dad calls for better signs after serious crash

6:10am Saturday 15th September 2012 in News By Ed Stilliard, Senior Reporter

A FATHER-OF-THREE has told how he feels lucky to be alive after a crash that left him in a coma for eight days.

Chris Gregory’s heart stopped four times after the incident at Romsey in which his BMW hit a trailer.

The lorry driver is still on crutches and faces a long road to recovery.

Now he is calling for greater safety measures on the road where it happened.

Chris said one firefighter who helped cut him from his car said it was the third worst road traffic accident he had seen.

“I know I’m extremely lucky – I should be dead.

“The doctor said 20 years ago I would never have made it.”

Chris, who lives in Marchwood , suffered a broken thigh in two places, a broken lower leg in three places, a broken pelvis in two places and a broken neck and broken ribs.

He also had a punctured lung, a tear in his kidney and his right knee was shattered – he still cannot walk on it.

Chris said he spent two weeks in intensive care and a total of eight weeks in hospital – he was then bedridden at home for a further two months.

He said on seeing the pictures taken of his car after the accident he was left “open mouthed” at how he had got out.

Southampton Magistrates’ Court has heard how the trailer Chris crashed into was being driven by James Hunt, 20, of Crook Hill, Romsey Road, while he was attempting to cut across the A3090.

Hunt pleaded not guilty to causing the incident at 6pm on February 4 this year while he tried to cut across the quiet dual carriageway rather than drive round the nearby roundabout at the junction with the A36.

However, the magistrate found him guilty of driving without due care and attention.

He was fined £300, ordered to pay costs of £620, a £16 victim surcharge and given seven points on his licence.

Chris believes drivers should not be allowed to cut across the A3090 dual carriageway and be forced to go down to the roundabout and come back if they need to access the roads off the other side of the dual carriageway.

He wants signs telling drivers not to cut across this road or for the highways team to block off the ‘cut throughs’ on the road to prevent it.

Cllr Mel Kendal, Hampshire County Council deputy leader and executive member for environment said an investigation was carried out on the road following the accident reviewing the crossover points, road surface, road lining, markings and the potential for sign amendments.

He said there were a number of access points on the A3090 leading to private land and resident’s homes, but the council will install traffic cylinders at the crossover nearest to the Ower roundabout to deter motorists from cutting across the dual carriageway here.

He said further signs on the approach to the roundabout with the A36 would be difficult to do without detracting from existing signs.