Man in Carshalton coach crash speaks of mental trauma
12:20pm Thursday 2nd September 2010 in
Accountant Thomas Tucker amazingly emerged from this crushed vehicle with a few minor cuts and bruises.
His car was the first to be hit by the runaway coach and was pushed almost 30 feet along Carshalton High Street hitting other vehicles and shops along the way.
Mr Tucker, 44, from Streatham Vale, was on his way home from work when the coach suddenly veered across the road towards him.
He said: “It was my worst nightmare.
“I don't really know what was going through my mind at the time. I just knew I wasn't going to die and I wasn't scared. I don't know why. There must have been angels with me.”
Although Mr Tucker emerged from the car with only cuts and bruises he has subsequently suffered from mental trauma.
He said: “I haven't been able to sleep that much since it happened. I keep having nightmares that the coach didn't stop and I am trapped, sinking in the pond.
“The psychological trauma becomes more and more severe as the days go by but I am doing my best just to get back to normal.
“The crash has also aggravated a previous condition. I had an operation on a trapped nerve a year and a half ago and was still recovering from that.
“I drove again on Sunday because I wanted to get back into a car as soon as possible, but I can't face driving in the same direction yet.”
Mr Tucker said he is angry that such large vehicles are allowed to travel along the narrow high street.
He said: “It is a death trap. They shouldn't be allowed down there. There are other roads that they can use.”
Mr Tucker, an accountant and project manager, has now returned to work.
He said: “I am trying to keep busy.
“The only way I can describe it is that I don't feel like I am the same person that got into the car that got out of it.”
Comments(2)
PeterM
says...
10:34pm Sat 4 Sep 10
We regurlarly see vehicles that have gone through the barriers and ended up partially submerged in the water.
What we need is one of the former traffic schemes reinstated, or at least a variation of one. Perhaps a banning of all HGVs over 7.5 Tonnes between The Greyhound and North Street, this would still allow the buses through and would not stop the passing trade from ordinary motorists. Ideally I would ban all vehicles, other than buses on this bit of the road.
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Photo by Barry Gough
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carshalton_dan says...
10:20pm Fri 3 Sep 10
Yes I would love Carshalton Village without the heavy vehicles, but without this traffic Carshalton wouldn't exist and it is what keeps Carshalton vibrant, it certainly isn't the local residents.