Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
‘Don’t fuss’ says 92-year-old left trapped under HGV after crash
Brave response after accident on mobility scooter ‘He was bleeding from his head and leg, but was saying he didn’t want to go to hospital’
A 92-year-old mobility scooter rider struck by a 44-tonne lorry told stunned passersby not to make a fuss.
The pensioner was left trapped in the wreckage of his crushed vehicle, bleeding from his head and leg at the entrance to the city’s Waitrose car park.
But witnesses say he asked not to go to hospital, saying he was more concerned about his scooter, which was scattered in pieces across the road.
Holly Richardson, who works at nearby Rochester House, walked out of Waitrose just after the crash in St George’s Place at 9.20am on Friday.
“The lorry driver was saying ‘Oh my god, oh my god, what have I done?’,” said the 26-yearold, from Preston.
“The man was sitting up and talking, but his legs were trapped under the lorry in the wreckage of the scooter.
“I called for an ambulance while some other people helped the elderly man. The lorry driver had to reverse so they could get him free. He was bleeding from his head and leg, but was saying he didn’t want to go to hospital.
“He didn’t want to make a fuss.
“He was more concerned about his scooter, saying how much he liked it and whether he would be getting a new one.”
The collision is thought to have happened as the man rode his scooter across the entrance to the car park as the lorry attempted to turn in.
Police and paramedics were called to the scene and the pensioner was taken to Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital.
Officers interviewed witnesses and the driver of the Mercedes lorry, with a road closure sparking tailbacks across the city.
Pictures were taken at the scene by the serious collision investigation unit, who turn out at fatal or life-threatening accidents.
Police said on Tuesday that the man – believed to be called John – was recovering well in hospital.
Ms Richardson said: “The scooter saved his life. It was completely crushed.”
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call 01622 798538 or email sciu.td@kent. pnn.police.uk, quoting reference MM/AH/192/16.