Lucky escape for motorist

Thursday 5th November 2009, 10:02AM GMT.

Trish Calvert in her neighbours' garden with a car that crashed earlier this morning. A woman driver had a lucky escape when her car left the road and landed upside down in a garden in a village near Oswestry.

The motorist suffered only minor injuries but her Renault Clio was badly damaged.

The crash has sparked calls from worried residents in Knockin for the village’s 30mph speed limit to be extended.

The Clio left the B4396 road, went through a hedge and ended upside down in a garden, close to the resident’s garage on Tuesday. West Mercia Police spokesman Richard Ewels said the accident happened just before 7pm outside The Old School House in Knockin.

Villagers said the crash was the latest in a series of accidents that have seen cars lose control on a sharp bend and crash into their gardens. Trish Calvert, who lives next door to Tuesday’s crash site, said it was the fifth such accident this year at the same spot.

“We’re worried that unless something is done the next accident could be a fatality or a very serious injury,” she said.

Most of Knockin is now covered by a 30mph speed limit but the section past Mrs Calvert’s and her neighbours’ homes is 40mph.

Hugh Dannatt, Shropshire Council’s group manager traffic and highway engineering, said: “We are currently awaiting details about this from the police. When we receive these we will be discussing them with the parish council and local member.”

View more: Oswestry news, Shropshire Council news, West Mercia Police news.