WOMAN TRAPPED IN ACCIDENT

The rear axle of the vehicle trapped the woman, who was lying on her back. She suffered facial injuries and a wound to her side.

A member of the public called the South Coast Ambulance service. Passers-by rushed to help the woman, pulling barrels from the van in an attempt to lighten the load.

As the vehicle was pressing directly on top of her spine, five men from the Caffyns garage helped to jack up the van, relieving the pressure on the woman's back until the ambulance arrived.

Earlier this year the Express reported on a safety campaign launched by local mum Denise Mines after she saw a car nearly hit a group of children as they walked towards Holy Cross Primary School.

Mrs Mines, a mother of four, of Baker Street, contacted the county council's highways department asking them to reduce the speed limit and install traffic calming measures on the lane.

By a strange coincidence, Mrs Mines was at the scene on Monday when the woman became trapped.

She said: 'It's almost ironic really. I have been campaigning about this road for months and all of a sudden I was walking towards Mill Lane when the accident happened '“ it was almost like fate.'

She rushed to help and stayed with the van driver and other witnesses while the ambulance attended to the pensioner.

She added: 'I predicted this. I said it was an accident waiting to happen. It is absolutely tragic and next time it could be a child or another vulnerable older person, so we must not just sit back and ignore the situation.

'The danger lies not just in the speed limit down the road but also because Mill Lane is very narrow, often visually obstructed and is used by a large number of vehicles everyday '“ it is dangerous and something must be done.'

he Express understands the injured woman is recovering well in hospital. Her injuries, although serious, are not life threatening. Since the accident she has been in a calm and stable condition and has even been sitting up and talking.