A social worker left injured after her car was in collision with another motorist who did not stop is asking for help in identifying him.
Samantha Ferguson, 22, who lives in Harpenden, was taken to hospital by ambulance after the collision at 5.10pm last Wednesday, May 11, in Thrales End Lane, Harpenden.
A social worker by profession who spends most days driving all over the county, she was on her way home from Hitchin after work and taking her usual route along a road she uses twice daily.
Samantha said she slowed down in her black Renault Clio as she approached Thrales End Farm . As the road straightened out, she saw a red Ford Fiesta Ghia driving towards her at speed on her side of the road.
She went on: “All I can remember from that moment is that I was about to veer left, which would have taken me onto the farmers field, when I heard a loud bang and could smell smoke.
“The glass from my window had shattered and I was covered in glass. I noticed straight away that my wing mirror had disappeared and there was smoke coming from the fixtures.”
Samantha was able to see the Ford Fiesta continue along the road before disappearing into the distance but was so shocked by what had happened that she was unable to remember the vehicle’s number plate.
A passing tradesman pulled over and told her that she was bleeding and would need medical attention. He told her that she had no door handle so would need to open the door from the inside.
She said: “I cannot thank this gentleman enough for holding my hand and calming me down. Thank you.”
When paramedics arrived, they saw that the wound was deep and not the scratch Samantha had assumed. She was taken to A&E where she had an x-ray and six stitches.
When Samantha’s parents, Bob and Chris, arrived, they noticed a red wing mirror on the side of the road and have reported its unique code to the police. They stayed with the car until the AA arrived but the family has since learned that her car is a write-off.
CCTV at the farm has established that the other car was a 2001 Red Ford Fiesta Ghia
Samantha was signed off work for a week because of the after-effects of the accident and has now lost a week’s pay as well as having no car.
Dad Bob said: “We dread to think what could have happened to our daughter if the driver had hit her face on.”
And her brother Josh added: “Sam loves her job so much and she’s more concerned about letting her service users down than her own health.”
Anyone with information about the collision or the driver of the other vehicle is asked to contact police on the non-emergency number 101.
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