| The woman’s car was travelling westwards along Balunie Avenue early this morning when it collided with a parked vehicle and flipped onto the driver’s side, compressing her into a small area.
Kirsty Byrne (18) watched the accident from her window and raised the alarm. Her dad Raymond raced onto the street and was joined by neighbours and passers-by.
Mr Byrne smashed the car’s back window and made contact with the elderly casualty.
A bus driver also stopped his vehicle to offer assistance, using the bus’ emergency hammer to break the car’s window.
A neighbour climbed in through the window and tried to free the woman.
She was unable to get out so the rescuers then attempted to right the car, but couldn’t move it before the emergency services arrived and took over.
Firefighters used a ladder to stabilise the vehicle while they used cutting gear to clear away tangled bodywork and the roof before assisting paramedics in moving the woman to an ambulance using a spinal board.
Police said the woman was taken to hospital as a precaution but was released later uninjured.
The rescue operation took around an hour because of the difficulties in creating enough space to free the driver.
Kirsty said, “There was a loud bang and the car flipped over so I phoned the ambulance.”
Raymond said, “I smashed the back window and made contact with the woman. She seemed okay and I tried to keep her talking until the emergency services arrived.
“Neighbours and passers-by also came and we tried to move the car, but it was just too heavy.
“I’m just glad she doesn’t seem to have been badly hurt as it did look pretty serious.”
Thomas Foulis also helped.
“A group of neighbours ran out after hearing the bang,” he said.
“The woman didn’t seem seriously injured but she was pretty shaken up.
“We tried to get the car back upright, but it was just too heavy.”
Avril Douris heard the bang and looked out her window. She said, “The car flipped over. It looked a serious accident. It’s lucky she wasn’t killed.”
Alex Murray, whose partner Avril’s car was involved, said, “I couldn’t believe it when she knocked on my door —Avril only got the car a fortnight ago.
“I didn’t see what happened, but I hope the woman isn’t seriously hurt. It’s just a car at the end of the day.”
Station Officer Ron Massie of Kingsway Fire Station said, “The car was on its side, limiting access.
“The occupant was elderly and wasn’t moving so we had to get access to the car to get a spinal board in prior to removal.
“To extricate the casualty we had to remove the roof and take special care.” |
