Cannock Woman Receives Damages After Racetrack Accident

Lorry crash at stock car racing injures woman

11/03/2008

A Cannock woman, who suffered a broken pelvis after a lorry wheel bounced over a perimeter fence and into a crowd of spectators at Hednesford Raceway, has been awarded a substantial six-figure sum in damages.

46-year-old Jackie Edwards from Chadsmoor was a regular visitor to Hednesford Raceway and, along with her husband Dave and 26-year-old son Chris, was amongst hundreds of spectators attending a Bank Holiday Easter Monday stock car racing event, in April 2006.

The family were watching the last race of the afternoon, when drivers were encouraged to use a small ramp built into the track to "jump" off. Having completed a jump, one car careered up onto the central area of the track and collided with two lorry wheels that had been placed there.

When the car collided with them, rather than absorbing the impact, they were thrown across the stadium and the inflated lorry wheel acted like a 'bouncing bomb', picking up momentum and bouncing clear over the 15ft perimeter fence into the spectators terrace, causing Mrs Edwards serious injuries.

Mrs Edwards was airlifted to Staffordshire General Hospital suffering from a broken pelvis and a partial fracture to her neck. She has spent the last two years slowly recovering from her injuries. She is now unable to stand or sit for long periods without pain, suffers frequent headaches and has not been able to return to her original job as a cleaner.

Mrs Edwards explained: "The accident itself is still a complete blur. I can remember my husband, putting his arm up to try to shield me from the wheel. I don't remember it actually hitting me. I can vaguely remember the paramedics working on me and I had a really heavy sensation in my legs as though someone was sitting on the lower half of my body. I must have been drifting in and out of consciousness. I don’t even recall being put in the air ambulance – which is probably just as well as I am terrified of heights."

"The next thing I recall was waking up in hospital two days later. I think in many ways it's probably a blessing that I don’t remember too much of the accident but I feel sorry for my husband and son who witnessed the whole thing. I know the memory of that day still haunts them both."

She continued: "I do feel lucky to be alive. Although at the time it was described as a freak accident I have since discovered it was totally avoidable if only the correct safety precautions had been taken. However, I don’t blame the driver of the stock car. I understand he took it all really badly but, like me, he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Defendants, United Kingdom Stock Cars, who were at the time responsible for the race day and health and safety at Hednesford Raceway, have admitted liability and agreed to pay Mrs Edwards a substantial six-figure sum in an out of court settlement.

Hilary Wetherell, a solicitor with the Birmingham office of law firm Irwin Mitchell, who represented Mrs Edwards, explained: "It was abundantly clear from day one that there must have been a significant failing in the health and safety planning at this event for this accident to have occurred in the way that it did.

"Given the fact that the stadium was packed that afternoon and there were small children sat immediately in front and behind Jackie, it is extremely fortunate that there weren't many more injuries or even fatalities that day.

"It was very pleasing to see that once liability had been admitted by the defendant, they started negotiations almost straight away in an effort to settle the claim and I know that Jackie is very grateful to them for the way that they have dealt with her case. The raceway has also indicated, through their solicitors, that they intend to offer Jackie and her family tickets to return to the raceway in the future as a gesture of goodwill."

Mrs Edwards added: “Watching the stock car racing at Hednesford has been a major part of my life for more than 20 years. Prior to the accident I hardly ever missed a race and had even been known to cut short a holiday to get back in time to see an event."

"Its been a difficult couple of years but I feel at last ready to go back. I know I shall be nervous but I need to face my fears and I hope to be at the opening race of the season on March 16th. I think then I may be able to finally put the accident behind me and move on with my life."