27yr-old facing huge repair bill

THE parents of a disabled woman fear she could lose her independence after her specially adapted van was damaged in a hit-and-run incident.

Leah Batchelor was driving along the Knock dual carriageway in East Belfast in her Volkswagen Caddy when a car crashed into the back of her.

But it made off after the driver shouted at the 27-year-old and tried to blame her for the collision.

Her mum Allison told the Mirror: “We have to get the damage looked at to see the full extent of it, but the ramp Leah uses to get into the car has been warped, as has a bit underneath the van that supports the ramp.

“You can’t get this sort of thing fixed in any old garage, it’s a specially adapted car and cost a lot of money.

“To adapt it cost a lot and to fix it could cost thousands.

“But the fella who ran into the back of Leah, he just drove off so we’re left now wondering if it’ll be her insurance that ends up paying out here.

“Her last insurance bill was £1,800 because it’s such an expensive job to fix anything in the car, but if she has to pay out rather than the fella who did this we’re worried her bill will go up even more.

“Either it could end up Leah can’t afford the insurance or, if the car has to go to the people in England who adapted it, they’ll have it for a few weeks at least.

“Either way there’s a chance she will lose the one thing that gives her her independence. It’s just really upsetting. Accidents happen, fair enough, but you deal with it and you face the consequences.

“You don’t drive off and leave a disabled woman at the side of the road.”

The Dundonald woman uses a wheelchair since suffering a stroke when she was 21 and studying at university. Her van is specially adapted so she can transport her wheelchair in it.

Mrs Batchelor said Leah was on her way back from a treatment session at Knockbracken Healthcare Park when the accident happened at around 3.30pm on Friday.

She added: “She was shunted with such force she hit the car in front of her. The lady in that car got out and once she realised what had happened she was very good and she stayed with Leah until the police and her daddy arrived.

“We just hope the fella who did this is either caught or his conscience gets the better of him and he comes forward. The fact he started shouting at Leah is just terrible.” Police have appealed for information about the crash in the area of Knockmount Park.

They said the collision involved a blue Renault Clio, blue Volkswagen Caddy and a white Ford Ka, which is understood to have driven off in the direction of Ballygowan Road.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the PSNI on 101 quoting reference 754 11/07/2017, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

DUNDONALD YESTERDAY

DAMAGE Rear of vehicle