Oct2014_LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor,

THANK YOU and WARNING RE WET ROADS

On Friday 15th August 2014 Katy Kent was involved in a single vehicle accident which resulted in her losing control of her Alfa Romeo GTV. It finally landed upside down in the ditch beside the road.

 

The accident occurred at about 9.30am on Samsonvale Road between Hill Street and Jagera Court. This is a relatively straight stretch of road and Katy was only doing the speed limit. The road was wet as it had recently rained for the first time in ages. We believe that Katy encountered oil on the road that was lifted and dispersed by the first rains after a long dry spell.

Katy was not the only driver on that day to encounter a loss of control on that spot of road.  Whilst volunteers were helping to free her from the wreckage, another vehicle lost control temporarily at the same spot.  But the driver must have been more experienced as they managed to regain control.  But then shortly after Katy had been freed from the wreckage, another driver lost control of their vehicle on the same spot and ploughed into the back of a car belonging to one of the volunteers helping Katy. 

Thankfully Katy walked away from her accident with just a scratch on her hand and the occupants of the third vehicle to lose control also appeared uninjured.  But these accidents serve as a timely reminder, especially to younger and less experienced drivers to be aware of and realise that the roads can be much more slippery on the first day of rain after a prolonged period of dry weather – as had been the case here.

Katy and her family: Chris, Heidi and Drew would all like to say a very heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers who stopped and helped her in her time of need.  Unfortunately, given the stress of the situation we failed to get all the names of all the people who helped Katy but are very thankful nonetheless and would especially like to thank Tomo for pulling her out and also Andrew Howard (whose car got damaged while he was doing a good deed) and his un-named friend and also Paul Incoll of QFES Kemp Place Fire Station. Thank you all of you.  You are often in our thoughts and prayers.

Heidi Kent.