February 20, 2014


‘Victims of crash feared they’d die’


A FAMILY thought they were going to die when an eight- tonne trailer carrying silage tipped over and crushed their vehicle, a court heard. Angela Driver was driving


towards Nympsfield in Tin- kley Lane with partner David Keveren and granddaughter Annalise Bell-Howdon, sev- en, when the accident hap- pened on Thursday, August 1. Stroud Magistrates Court heard howAlan Sealey’s New Holland tractor mounted a wall as he tried to avoid the car, causing the trailer to tip over on to the vehicle. Sealey, aged 43, of Bristol


Road, Cam, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention. He was fined £350, must pay


£30 in costs plus a £35 sur- charge and was disqualified from driving for four months. The court heard that Annal-


ise, from Northumberland, was staying with Mrs Driver and Mr Keveren at their For- est Green home at the time. Mrs Driver was driving to- wards Nympsfield when she had to stop at a narrow point in the road because of the ap- proaching tractor. Prosecutor Graham Dono said Sealey was unable to stop the tractor and, fearing it would crash into the car, he steered it to- wards the wall.


“The tractor mounted the


wall but the trailer did not and tipped over on to the car,” he said. “He fully expected to stop and at the last moment swerved.” Witnesses estimated that Sealey had been travelling at 20mph before the collision. Mrs Driver and her passen-


gers escaped with cuts and bruises but have suffered psy- chological problems since the collision. Mr Dono read out a victim impact statement in which Mrs Driver said: “The acci- dent has been the worst event of our lives. “We do not want to drive at


all at the moment. We will never be able to drive that road again. My granddaugh- ter won’t get into a car or bus or some buildings. “He did not come to help


us, we were literally waiting there to die. We thought it would crush us from above before we could get out.” Sealey, who represented himself, said he had “possi- bly” been driving “at speed”. He explained how he ap- plied the brakes but due to the extra weight of the trail- er, the vehicle failed to slow down as he expected. He steered the tractor into


the wall to avoid the car: “I evaded the situation which


could have been a lot worse. I had to make a split decision, the lesser of two evils. “I apologise for all the prob-


lems and stress they have been through.” He told the court that after


the crash he went to check to see if the family were okay. After the case, Mrs Driver


said she would like to thank PC Simon Meredith, one of the officers who investigated the case, and motorist Rod- ney Cripps, who smashed the rear window of the Hyundai, allowing the family to escape.


Gloucestershire Independent Popular author visits town library


POPULAR children’s au- thor and musician John Dougherty


entertained


around 20 youngsters with guitar songs and extracts from his new book at Stroud library recently. As part of the event, held


to mark National Libraries Day, the Rodborough-based writer read from his lat- est work, Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face and the Bad- ness of Badgers, which was recently voted The Times’ children’s book of the week. “Visits like this showpeo-


ple that the library is a fun place to come and read,” said librarian Andrew Fripp. “Our ethos is to support education and get children reading. We are here for the fun el-


We’renot like any


other school.Comeand see what’s different.


open mornings


Prep School (3-13) Sat8march at 9.30am College(13-18) Sat15march at 9.30am


11


Children’s author John Dougherty visited Stroud library (3904398)


ement too.” Lucy Yarham, principal li- brary assistant, added: “It was a really good morning.


John sang some songs and brought his guitar along to play some tunes, which every- one really enjoyed.”


stroud High school


Open MOrnings 9.30aM to 12 nOOn Tuesday4March 2014


Wednesday25June 2014 Open evenings


Duetohighdemand we arenow arranging two prospective parents’ eveningson:


Wednesday12March 2014 6pm


Tuesday18March 2014 7pm


Thinking of University? Why not study locally?


We offer specialist foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses that combine


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Our latest SIAM’s Reportgaveusan outstandinggrade forour Christian Distinctiveness andpraised theschool forthe care,


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www.rau.ac.uk www.winslowhouseltd.co.uk 01453 832269


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guidance andsupport given so that ‘children aresohappycomingto schoolbecause they arevalued and celebratedasuniquebeings’ andfor the strong ‘teamwork shown between the staff and children in leadingacommunitythat works together forthe good of all.’


Miserden CofEPrimary School,


Miserden,StroudGloucestershireGL6 7JA•01285 821463 admin@miserden.gloucs.sch.uk


Come andvisit us!


Boarding and dayCo-eduCationfrom3-18 www.cheltenhamcollege.org


Areyou looking forthe highest standards of residential care?


Phone: 01453 764441


(pleasenotethe Open eveningsare for


parents/carersonly)


Thereisnoneed to registerfor our Open Events,pleasejust come along.


Website: www.stroudhigh.gloucs.sch.uk


Miserden CofE Primary School


Open DayFriday7th March 10am until 12 noon


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