Caroline’s ordeal at being stuck in hot car with baby

A Coatbridge councillor was left in tears and fearing for her young grandson’s wellbeing after becoming stuck in traffic for more than two hours on the then hottest day of the year.

Coatbridge West representative Caroline Stephen‘s ordeal occurred last Thursday when she found herself nose-to-tail with other vehicles on an M8 slip road, near the Eurocentral business park just after 4pm. Posting on a roadworks story on the Advertiser’s Facebook page, Caroline commented:“I was stranded for two-and-a-half hours with a baby at Eurocentral today because I took the wrong cut off.

“I was frightened because I had no water in the car for him.

“I had to get myself to a car park at the back of Eurocentral and sit and wait for the standstill to clear more than two hours later.

“I was in tears and have never experienced anything like that in 25 years of driving.”

The recently-elected councillor uploaded a status to her own Facebook page shortly after becoming embroiled in the gridlock to make her plight known and that she had contacted the police.

Well-wishers offered help but such was the volume of traffic the only thing she could do was wait.

Just before 7pm she told her friends on the status:“Thanks guys that’s us just home.

“Never been so scared like that before — I don’t know who cried more, Kaelan or myself. “Just so glad I am home now.” Many motorists have contacted the Advertiser to voice their frustrations over lengthy delays caused by the ongoing M8 upgrade.

We were unable to reach Councillor Stephen for further comment.