Drivers 'lucky to be alive' after Shropshire crashes

The drivers say they feel lucky to be alive after the "terrifying" incidents.

They claim Shropshire Council's highways department had not cleaned up the spill – but the authority has declined to comment.

West Mercia Police initially told the Shropshire Star the collisions on the Bomere Heath Road were caused by sleet. But the force has since apologised and said it believed fuel on the road played a part.

Gwyneth Lloyd, 60, of Bomere Heath, was trapped inside her car off Huffley Lane after it went over a hedge and landed on its side in a field. Mrs Lloyd, of Shrewsbury Road, had gone into Shrewsbury shopping and was on her way home at about 1.30pm on Tuesday when she crashed.

"All of a sudden the car skidded and it shot the car straight across the road and over the hedge into the field on its side," she said. "I had bumped my head and cut my hand. There was quite a lot of blood. I feel extremely lucky to be alive."

She was taken to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital with a cut to her hand and a head injury. Less than two hours later another car overturned on the same bend.

A car being driven by Jason Coslett, 43, from Shrewsbury, ended up on its roof at the same spot, partially blocking the road. A large branch smashed through the windscreen narrowly missing Mr Coslett, who escaped by sliding out of the passenger door.

He said: "I came around the corner and the first thing I saw was sea of red gritting salt and the car started losing control. I was grappling with it but the wheels dug into the kerb and it flipped over on to its roof. Part of a large branch had come right through the windscreen.

"It could have been considerably worse. We were both very lucky."

West Mercia Police said it apologised for any confusion. Sophie Flynn, spokeswoman for the force, said: "We do believe that the oil fuel on the road played a part in the collision."

Shropshire Council has declined to comment.