A man is lucky to be alive after a tree crashed onto the roof of his car, shattering the passenger-side windshield inches from his face.
Jack Hartwell said he could have been killed when the tree fell and landed on the roof of his car as he was driving to work along Darenth Hill in Dartford.
Jack Hartwell in his car before it was destroyed by the tree
The 22-year-old was just a mile from his job at Barrett Steel on Station Road in Sutton-at-Hone when he noticed something out of the corner of his eye.
He said: “I immediately squatted down, put my head on the steering wheel and slammed on the brakes. Then I heard a tremendous crash.”
Jack is pleased because when he looked up his side of the car was completely untouched but the passenger side had completely collapsed.
Paramedics informed him that if the tree had landed two inches to the right, Jack might not have been alive.
“It could have ended really badly,” he said. “I’m lucky that I escaped with minor injuries.”
A tree crashed into Jack’s car on Darenth Hill in DartfordA tree crashed into Jack’s car on Darenth Hill in Dartford
Jack’s friend was also lucky because he usually drives Jack to work every day, but on Monday he was late and said he would meet him there.
“If he was in the passenger seat, it would have killed him,” Jack said.
Jack who was due to start work at 6pm is now unable to get to work as he lives in Basildon, Essex and is too scared to get back in a car.
“The thought of getting in a car is pretty scary right now,” he added.
After receiving treatment at the scene, Jack had to go to the hospital because his back and calf hurt. He has since been diagnosed with nerve and tissue damage.
He says he is currently unable to return to work as it requires heavy lifting of steel beams and poles and could aggravate his existing pain.
A tree crashed into Jack’s car on Darenth Hill in DartfordA tree crashed into Jack’s car on Darenth Hill in Dartford
He said: “I’ve been off work all week because I’m in pain. It’s quite physical work and could aggravate my injuries.”
The white Ford Fiesta is also a devaluation.
A tree crashed into Jack’s car on Darenth Hill in Dartford
The road was closed until 7 p.m. as emergency services worked to clear the tree blocking the roadway.
A Kent Police spokesman said: “We were called at 5.31pm to receive a report that a tree had fallen on a car in Darenth Hill, Dartford.
“Officials were at the scene along with the South East Coast Ambulance Service but the driver did not require hospital treatment.
“A road closure was ordered while the tree and vehicle were being recovered.”
www.kentonline.co.uk
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/news/driver-s-lucky-escape-after-huge-tree-crashes-into-moving-ca-288155/
