'It wasn't anyone's fault': Mum recalls 'traumatic' crash with five-year-old in car after driver suffered medical episode
“It was traumatic” - Those are the gut-wrenching words of a mum who had to be cut out of her vehicle after being involved in a serious crash alongside her five-year-old son.
Rachel Emery has launched a search for two kind women who helped after her journey home took a traumatic turn last week (March 13) when a driver, who is believed to have suffered a medical episode, smashed into the side of her car at a busy roundabout in Waterlooville.
The 27-year-old, who was with her son, River, and another passenger, was knocked unconscious instantly as her Skoda was shunted into the barriers, prompting a significant road closure and emergency response.
Rachel said: “I was on my way home - We had come up from Hulbert Road so I was in the lane ready to turn left and all I remember was seeing the front of his car. I didn’t have time to respond, it was instant and I was knocked out.
“The driver had gone into us at such speed that his car bounced back and came forward again. I was told that he had a heart attack and he put his foot on the acceleration.
“My son had come out of his seat immediately and was trying to wake me up. Lots of people came rushing over to us and a lovely lady from Sainsbury’s took him into her car and gave him a Creme Egg, while another lady was in the back of my car holding my head up.
Emergency services responded to the crash, with fire crews having to cut Rachel out of her car due to the amount of damage her side sustained.
After being safely extracted, she was “rushed to hospital” where tests revealed she had suffered a bleed on the brain, a break in her lower back and damage to her nerves.
“It was traumatic - When I heard that my boy had been crying and trying to wake me up, it hurt my heart completely that my child had to see me like that”, Rachel explained.
She added: “As far as I’m aware, the driver had CPR done on him and I was told at the hospital that he had a heart attack and that it wasn’t malicious. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. It happens.
“The community really came together. I did do a post on Facebook to see if I could find those two ladies who helped so I could thank them properly because it was such a kind thing they did. It was obviously a very traumatic experience but it was very wholesome to see people come together to help.
“My boy has got some bruises, but he’s okay - he’s been a trooper, bless him.”
Rachel was released from hospital on March 18, with doctors saying her injuries could take up to two months to heal.
“I can’t really do anything at the moment, I just need to take it easy and give my body time”, she said.
If you were one of the women who helped Rachel after the crash, get in touch with us via the email - [email protected]