Laindon motorist lucky to be alive after crash

8:40am Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in News

Les Walker recovering at home Les Walker recovering at home

A DRIVER says he owes his life to a lamppost which stopped his car rolling on to the A127 after it was catapulted into the air.

Les Walker, 46 from Laindon said the metal pole was the only thing that prevented his car from landing in the path of oncoming traffic on the busy dual carriageway.

The Underground worker said his car was sent hurtling into the air after he struck a deep dip in the road at Gardiners Link, Basildon.

He had to be cut free from the wreckage and spent four days in hospital.

Mr Walker may now take legal action against highways chiefs at Essex County Council over the dip that he blames for the crash.

Comments (19)

9:00am Tue 2 Oct 12

melissa14 says...

Whilst I totally agree that the dip there is very dangerous and needs to be sorted out, how fast was he driving over it to make the car flip?
Whilst I totally agree that the dip there is very dangerous and needs to be sorted out, how fast was he driving over it to make the car flip? melissa14

9:03am Tue 2 Oct 12

Russ13 says...

Whilst "dip" has to be the biggest understatement to describe this road subsidance, I've never flipped my car driving over it at the prescribed speed limit.
Whilst "dip" has to be the biggest understatement to describe this road subsidance, I've never flipped my car driving over it at the prescribed speed limit. Russ13

9:06am Tue 2 Oct 12

howironic says...

What was he doing differently to the other 1000's that must go over that on a daily basis?
What was he doing differently to the other 1000's that must go over that on a daily basis? howironic

9:51am Tue 2 Oct 12

southendshrimper says...

how much over the speed imit was he doing to flip the car? how big is this dip?
Is he just a dip who was speeding?
Can the dip sue him for diving over it as speed? Be funny if ECC sue him for damage caused by speeding or danagrous driving.
how much over the speed imit was he doing to flip the car? how big is this dip? Is he just a dip who was speeding? Can the dip sue him for diving over it as speed? Be funny if ECC sue him for damage caused by speeding or danagrous driving. southendshrimper

10:11am Tue 2 Oct 12

President3 says...

If what he is saying is true, can't understand how every vehicle using this road hasn't flipped in the same way.

I have never seen a dangerous road - but seen lots of dangerous driving.
If what he is saying is true, can't understand how every vehicle using this road hasn't flipped in the same way. I have never seen a dangerous road - but seen lots of dangerous driving. President3

10:18am Tue 2 Oct 12

RogerChasewood says...

If it is such a dip in the road how comes no one else has flipped over?
If it is such a dip in the road how comes no one else has flipped over? RogerChasewood

10:33am Tue 2 Oct 12

Russ13 says...

RogerChasewood wrote:
If it is such a dip in the road how comes no one else has flipped over?
Don't get me wrong.... it is a big dip! I tend to slow down just to make it more comfortable but even at 30mph, I've never felt any danger of losing control of my car
[quote][p][bold]RogerChasewood[/bold] wrote: If it is such a dip in the road how comes no one else has flipped over?[/p][/quote]Don't get me wrong.... it is a big dip! I tend to slow down just to make it more comfortable but even at 30mph, I've never felt any danger of losing control of my car Russ13

11:27am Tue 2 Oct 12

r6keith says...

I wonder if this dip is on his way to or from work, or was this was the first time he had ever been along this route ? These sort of questions will be asked.So will if the shock absorbers on his car where working correctly at the time of the incident. If everybody else can pass this way without incident then questions have to be asked about the driver or his vehicle.
I wonder if this dip is on his way to or from work, or was this was the first time he had ever been along this route ? These sort of questions will be asked.So will if the shock absorbers on his car where working correctly at the time of the incident. If everybody else can pass this way without incident then questions have to be asked about the driver or his vehicle. r6keith

12:21pm Tue 2 Oct 12

BenfleetBarrel says...

I prefer celery with my dip, not really a doritos-type-of-pers
on.
I prefer celery with my dip, not really a doritos-type-of-pers on. BenfleetBarrel

1:25pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Basildon.lad.21 says...

Seems like you were a naughty boy Les. Speeding perhaps?

But to be honest, if he has hit the 'dip' at the correct speed, correct angle, then it could of been the 'dips' fault. The chances of doing that is very unlikely though. Go get yourself a euro millions ticket tonight Mr Walker.
Seems like you were a naughty boy Les. Speeding perhaps? But to be honest, if he has hit the 'dip' at the correct speed, correct angle, then it could of been the 'dips' fault. The chances of doing that is very unlikely though. Go get yourself a euro millions ticket tonight Mr Walker. Basildon.lad.21

1:46pm Tue 2 Oct 12

southendshrimper says...

Come on echo you normally publish pics of the dips.... oh sorry you have.
Come on echo you normally publish pics of the dips.... oh sorry you have. southendshrimper

2:44pm Tue 2 Oct 12

billericay boy says...

If the lamp post could speak I'm sure that would throw some light on what happend.
If the lamp post could speak I'm sure that would throw some light on what happend. billericay boy

3:28pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Russ13 says...

billericay boy wrote:
If the lamp post could speak I'm sure that would throw some light on what happend.
Of course it would...... it used to be a fine upstanding member of the community and a shining beacon to us all.
[quote][p][bold]billericay boy[/bold] wrote: If the lamp post could speak I'm sure that would throw some light on what happend.[/p][/quote]Of course it would...... it used to be a fine upstanding member of the community and a shining beacon to us all. Russ13

9:13pm Tue 2 Oct 12

mikepaterson says...

The dip is extremely bad. I have to slow down to crawling pace, or use the other side of the road. It should have been sorted a year ago.

That said, he must have been doing double the speed limit to have had the accident he did.
The dip is extremely bad. I have to slow down to crawling pace, or use the other side of the road. It should have been sorted a year ago. That said, he must have been doing double the speed limit to have had the accident he did. mikepaterson

9:16pm Tue 2 Oct 12

E -Type says...

Echo Head Line

"Hero Lamppost praised by Council leader Tony Ball"
Echo Head Line "Hero Lamppost praised by Council leader Tony Ball" E -Type

9:18pm Tue 2 Oct 12

howironic says...

E -Type wrote:
Echo Head Line

"Hero Lamppost praised by Council leader Tony Ball"
You lost, now get over it and move on
[quote][p][bold]E -Type[/bold] wrote: Echo Head Line "Hero Lamppost praised by Council leader Tony Ball"[/p][/quote]You lost, now get over it and move on howironic

9:46pm Tue 2 Oct 12

E -Type says...

Lost what? A lamppost?

How do you lose a lamppost?

Have you lost one recently? Where? Have you checked the motorway? Ive seen a lot on there....maybe your one is there.
Lost what? A lamppost? How do you lose a lamppost? Have you lost one recently? Where? Have you checked the motorway? Ive seen a lot on there....maybe your one is there. E -Type

9:48pm Tue 2 Oct 12

howironic says...

E -Type wrote:
Lost what? A lamppost?

How do you lose a lamppost?

Have you lost one recently? Where? Have you checked the motorway? Ive seen a lot on there....maybe your one is there.
Made of metal ain't they? Perhaps some **** took yours for scrap
[quote][p][bold]E -Type[/bold] wrote: Lost what? A lamppost? How do you lose a lamppost? Have you lost one recently? Where? Have you checked the motorway? Ive seen a lot on there....maybe your one is there.[/p][/quote]Made of metal ain't they? Perhaps some **** took yours for scrap howironic

10:40pm Tue 2 Oct 12

E -Type says...

howironic wrote:
E -Type wrote:
Lost what? A lamppost?

How do you lose a lamppost?

Have you lost one recently? Where? Have you checked the motorway? Ive seen a lot on there....maybe your one is there.
Made of metal ain't they? Perhaps some **** took yours for scrap
I believe some are made of 90% concrete the way some people's heads are 99% dense bone!
[quote][p][bold]howironic[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]E -Type[/bold] wrote: Lost what? A lamppost? How do you lose a lamppost? Have you lost one recently? Where? Have you checked the motorway? Ive seen a lot on there....maybe your one is there.[/p][/quote]Made of metal ain't they? Perhaps some **** took yours for scrap[/p][/quote]I believe some are made of 90% concrete the way some people's heads are 99% dense bone! E -Type

Comments are closed on this article.

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree