I crashed on black ice but other drivers didn’t stop to help me

Teacher who had lucky escape is angry road wasn’t gritted more regularly

A primary school teacher has relived the moment she miraculously walked away from a horror crash unscathed – while others simply drove on past.

Jasmine Mcpherson’s car skidded on black ice on the A2 at Wincheap and veered into the left-hand barrier before careering across the road and smashing into the central reservation.

Despite attempts to control her Toyota Aygo, it spun 360 degrees and ended up in the middle of the dual-carriageway, blocking the two lanes.

But other drivers ignored her and instead manoeuvred around the wreckage before driving off.

“They were squeezing past my car and the central reservation to get around me,” she said.

“I was just sat there. The airbags had gone off. I couldn’t actually get out of my car because people were driving past. When I eventually did I had to make a run for it because they weren’t stopping.”

Eventually some kind passersby pulled over to help and emergency services were called, but not before several other cars crashed just up the road from Miss Mcpherson.

Police confirmed eight cars were involved in crashes on the stretch of road just before 7am on Friday, as temperatures plummeted below freezing

Miss Mcpherson, of Bekesbourne Lane, said: “It was caused by black ice.

“I was driving in the fast lane but I wasn’t even going as fast as the speed limit.

“My car suddenly veered to the left. I tried to control it but I must have over-corrected.

“When the police got there Jasmine Mcpherson’s car was badly damaged when she crashed on black ice on the A2 near Wincheap - eight cars were involved in crashes on the road on Friday morning

they said even if I’d been doing 30mph or 40mph I still would have crashed because of the ice.”

The 23-year-old had been on her way to work at Five Acre School in Maidstone.

She believes Highways England – which is responsible for maintaining A roads – should

pay compensation to cover the losses she has suffered.

“I know how lucky I am to be alive, but I only got my car in August,” she said.

“Before that I was driving an old banger and I probably wouldn’t be alive if I’d still been driving that.

“Now I’ve got to pay £700 excess, claim on my insurance, get a new car.

“Really there is nothing I can do. In terms of insurance, effectively it’s an act of God. It’s frustrating as it wasn’t my fault. The roads should be maintained and gritted.

“My family have just been to Switzerland and they have thick snow and freezing temperatures there, yet they’re able to cope when this country can’t.”

Miss Mcpherson suffered shoulder and neck injuries in the crash and has been off work this week.

“I’m not sleeping well, I keep thinking about what could have happened,” she said.

Highways England spokesman Valerie Amar-matthews says the road was treated at 4pm on Thursday, the day before the incident.

“This was strictly in accordance with the weather conditions at the time,” she said

She said possible claims can be discussed by calling the agency’s customer contact centre on 0300 1235000.

Jasmine Mcpherson - ‘I keep thinking about what could have happened’