4:00pm Wednesday 8th July 2009
By Laura Smith
A HEAVILY-PREGNANT woman narrowly avoided a road smash after a schoolboy threw a branch at her car.
Caroline Burman, 28, was being driven past King John School, Thundersley, by her boyfriend when an object came flying over the fence.
The branch struck their car causing them to swerve across the road into the path of oncoming traffic in Benfleet Road.
Steven Brownlie, who was driving the car, said: “All I saw was a black object, and there was a mighty great bang.
“It was a case of keeping hold of the steering wheel as it was going all over the show. If there was another oncoming car it could’ve been fatal.”
Mr Brownlie, 27, managed to keep control of the BMW 328i Sport, which suffered £500 damage.
He marched up to the school fence to shout at group of 15 giggling boys who were standing there. Their response angered him so much he jumped over the fence into the school grounds to find the culprit.
Mr Brownlie, who lives in Warwick Drive, Rochford, admitted: “I did the silly thing of jumping over the fence and chasing them. Once common sense got into me, I thought I should’ve gone into the school and taken it up.”
His tearful girlfriend, who is nine months pregnant, dialled 999 and the police arrived and arrested a teenage boy.
Mr Brownlie said the boy’s father had since called him to apologise and offered to pay the £250 excess to his insurance company.
Of the incident, Mr Brownlie said: “It was a silly five-minute spasm.
“It has been resolved in a way that I’m happy with. I feel a bit guilty that this young kid has got a police record, but I’m happy with the way it’s been dealt with by his father. The parents have been very responsible.”
Deputy headteacher Gary Pratt said: “We have co-operated with the police and we’ve spoken to the man and the boy’s parents. We’ve resolved the issues to the satisfaction of everybody.”
A 13-year-old boy was arrested by police and given a reprimand.
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