TV presenter’s sister ‘lucky to be alive’ after rock thrown from M1 bridge lands on her car
POLICE LAUNCH INVESTIGATION OVER ‘RECKLESS’ ACT
A MOTORIST wants people to understand how their actions could have “catastrophic” consequences after her car was hit by a rock thrown from a bridge over the M1.
Gina Bradbury Fox, the older sister of TV presenter Julia Bradbury, was driving along the motorway between junction 26 and 27 when a “huge rock” came hurtling towards her.
The rock bounced off her bonnet, denting it, and made a “thump” as it crashed into her windscreen.
Fortunately, she managed to bring her Range Rover to a stop safely.
She said: “I am lucky to be alive. I was driving up the M1 and I was in the semi-outside lane, I had my cruise control on and, all of a sudden, I saw this thing coming down.
“It was a rock. It bounced into the bonnet. I carried on in the same lane to get under the bridge and pulled over to collect my thoughts.
“Had I not been in the car I am in or had I not been an experienced driver, it could have been catastrophic.”
Mrs Bradbury Fox, who cofounded The Outdoor Guide and works with a number of organisations such as Keep Britain Tidy, said as she came to a stop she saw three young people running across the bridge.
She now wants to use her experience to make a positive change and deter such incidents from happening again.
“I do not know what sort of child would think that is an acceptable pastime,” she added, explaining she was left feeling more sad than angry.
“This is what the kids ... are doing. I just think if anything can come out of this it is to make schools and parents aware.
“I think people have to be aware. It is frightening that you have to now think, driving down the motorway, that a person is going to throw something off the bridge.
“Although it would be good to catch them, I would love to try and get a positive message out too, as this will be more beneficial to kids and parents.”
Julia Bradbury, who presents Cornwall and Devon Walks on ITV, added: “My sister was travelling for work along the M1 between junction 26 and 27 when three young’uns threw a huge rock down on to the motorway.
“It hit the bonnet and smashed the windscreen. She careered off the road avoiding cars but luckily nobody was killed.
“If you know who it might be or know anything about it please have a word and contact police. Obviously this could have been fatal.”
Police said they would be investigating the incident, which happened around two miles south of junction 27 on the northbound carriageway at 11.50am on Saturday.
The object, believed to be a stone or a rock, was thrown into the middle lane from a footbridge that can be accessed from the Common Lane and Whyburn Lane areas of Hucknall.
The force says it would like to speak to three young men seen in the area at the time of the incident.
Inspector Mark Dickson added: “This was a reckless and dangerous act that put multiple lives at risk.
“It was only a matter of good fortune
that this object hit the bonnet first before it hit the windscreen. “Luckily, the driver was not injured but it was a shocking and frightening incident that could have been an awful lot worse.
“We are taking what happened here extremely seriously and have begun a very thorough investigation. “We have examined CCTV footage from near the area and would like to speak to anybody who saw three young men acting suspiciously at around this time.
“We’d particularly like to speak to anyone with any dashcam or CCTV footage who may help us identify the people responsible.”
Anyone with any information is asked to call 101 quoting incident 258 of April 10.
Had I not been an experienced driver, it could have been catastrophic
Gina Bradbury Fox