YEOVIL NEWS: Driver fears he could have killed two lads had he been a split second earlier

A MOTORIST has spoken of his shock after nearly finding himself knocking over – and potentially killing – two youths who ran out in front of him while he was driving on the Abbey Manor estate in Yeovil.

He was driving down Stourton Way on Monday (February 27, 2017) evening at about 7pm when he said that two young lads, aged about 13-14, dashed out from the footpath which leads out of Elmleigh and across the pedestrian crossing and into Oak Tree Park on the other side of the road.

“If I had been a split second earlier I wouldn’t have had a chance to have got out of their way and I’d have hit them,” said a shaken Colin Thompson, 55.

“Thank God I was able to whack on the brakes in time. It really did shake me up – I could have killed them.

“But they didn’t even look round or apologise. I was wondering if they were doing it as some sort of dare challenge?”

Stourton Way is a fast-moving road and there have been accidents before, but Mr Thompson said he was definitely keeping within the 30mph.

“But I wouldn’t have been able to have done anything about this had those lads ran out in front of me a split second later," he said. "They clearly had other things on their mind rather than personal safety – unless they were just doing it as a prank!

"If it is just a prank then this is only going to end one way - in terrible tragedy."

There have also been problems with the pedestrian crossing further down Stourton Way by The Forum complex of shops where drivers have trouble seeing people emerge at the roadside because of bushes.

PHOTO – TOP: The pedestrian crossing on Stourton Way with the footpath leading to Elmleigh on the left and the entrance to Oak Tree Park on the right.

PHOTO – ABOVE: The two youths ran out from this footpath and over the crossing without even looking.

Tags:
News.