Crash followed gritting request
MOTORIST Peter Heath wants to know why a road was not gritted following an accident, after his own car crashed at the same spot 90 minutes later.
The electrical goods salesman was travelling to work in Leek on Saturday morning when he skidded in Chell Heath Road, Chell Heath, Stoke-on-Trent, and hit a lamppost.
Mr Heath's Renault Clio was badly damaged in the accident, and he ended up in A&E, although he was not seriously hurt.
A police officer told Mr Heath that a 4x4 had hit the same lamppost earlier that morning, following a similar skid, and that highways officers at Stoke-on-Trent City Council were told the road was in a dangerous state.
The 41-year-old says he feels the council did not act on the information quickly enough and is now considering making a claim against the council for the damage to his car.
Mr Heath, of Batkin Close, Chell Heath, said: "It's not as if I was late for work and I was hurrying or anything. I was only doing about 20 or 25mph.
"I'd just come over the brow of a hill and overtaken a milk float when the front end of the car just started sliding. The car went round and round, and then hit the kerb, which sent it up into a pirouette.
"Fortunately it came down on its wheels but I went straight into a lamppost.
"I was shaken all over place, but I was wearing my seatbelt. The impact was so bad it activated the side airbag. The car is a write off now."
A spokesman for Staffordshire Police confirmed they were called out to two ice-related accidents in Chell Heath Road on Saturday morning, the first at 7am and the second at 8.30am.
She said: "After the first incident the council were contacted and requested to turn out and see to the lamppost, which had been damaged, and also to grit the road.
"Following the second incident, the council were re-contacted. The road was closed and a gritting truck arrived just after 9am, and again at 9.50am."
The front end of Mr Heath's car was badly smashed up in the accident, with the bumper and one headlight left hanging off.
Mr Heath said the crash aggravated old injuries.
He said: "I've had a double hernia operation, and so when I woke up the next morning it felt like I'd been on the drink for a week. My neck really hurt and I had a bruised side as well.
"I class myself as a good driver. I'm not a boy racer. But I believe that road was in a dangerous condition.
"I feel the council should have been more responsive to the first accident. They should have either closed the road or sent a gritter straight away.
"Ironically, as I was going into the ambulance the gritting truck did finally turn up."
A spokesman for Stoke-on-Trent City Council said: "We are aware of the situation and are currently looking into what happened."
19 Comments
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by Realistic, stoke
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 10:25AM
“It's a real mix bag of opinion here, and whilst you may have the support of a few individuals on this site, I believe that you will struggle to make a claim against the council as this would set a legal precendent which would have huge repercussions across the country.
I am only thankful that you did not injure anyone else, and that ultimately there is very little chance that my hard earned cash will have to finance what is in my opinion your mistake.
And yes..... if it means during frosty conditions that we drive at the speed of a milk float to ensure your our own safety and the safety of others then so be it.
Too many people killed on the roads to argue otherwise.”
by John, Staffts
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 9:29PM
“I've read all the post and some of these arm chair accident investigators take the biscuit!! i bet should one of them have a accident or get shunted because of the roads not being gritted they'd be the first ones moaning,and before you lot start i've done more in reverse with 40 years worth of winter driving.”
by peter, chell
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 9:02PM
“Thanks to Tim and Ron for their good comments. i am suprised also that so many peole seemed to witness what happened as according to all the commennts lots of you must have been there and seen me driving supposedly too fast and without any care. silly me for thinkng a straight road with no other traffic on it wouldn't be safe to travel on at the speed i was. oh , and by the way magneto, suzukis are in fact the best bikes in the world. ( well, in my world anyway! ) unfortunately i may know have to sell mine to buy a new car, oh well. There goes another item of my pride and joy. The joys of the domino effect.”
by Tim, Stoke
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 8:28PM
“Good Luck Peter, the council were a utter disgrace with the gritting of the roads. The bins around my estate have been empty for months and still are.
When i asked them to fill the bins they told me "NO !".
Wonder what would happen if i said "NO" to anymore council tax payments ?”
by Ron, Blythe Bridge
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 8:04PM
“I can't believe a lot of the posters on here are saying that 20 - 25 is too fast on a road like that. We may as well all walk then when there is a bit of frost about. The council were warned by the police to sort the road but no doubt they had to finish their cups of tea and lean on a few shovels before they could turn out. I hope you get sorted peter.”