A man who suffered head injuries in a car crash has spoken out about the unfortunate circumstance which led him to be caught without a seat belt on.
An 18-year-old, who would prefer to remain anonymous, was riding in a taxi at about 10.30pm on March 6 when he needed to get cash out of his pocket and was forced to temporarily undo his seat belt.
Aware of the danger, he kept a finger in the buckle and the belt across his chest.
The next thing he knew, there was a large bang, the car had come to a full stop, and an unidentified smell was stinking out the car.
Both the grey Volkswagen Touran taxi and a silver Ford Focus were left with crumpled bonnets after they collided at the traffic light junction on Sandpit Lane, Marshalswick Lane, and Beechwood Avenue.
He said it was so unfortunate the crash happened in the two seconds he was vulnerable.
“I just remember the massive bang and the smell. It stuck to me and it’s horrible.
“I was trying to keep myself safe at the same time, it was seconds and I would have clicked it back in and carried on with the journey. It was the most unfortunate situation, I never travel without a seat belt because I have family who have been in traffic accidents without seatbelts on and died.”
His relative was young when he was involved in a head on collision and passed away.
The man, who was treated by the East of England Ambulance Service at the scene but not taken to hospital, said the incident is haunting him: “It’s horrible, I don’t feel safe in small cars now.
“I have been losing sleep over it and I have been away from work.”
He was having driving lessons but now feels nervous about carrying on.
Although the roads were quiet, drivers were forced to swerve around the accident site every time the lights changed.
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