EPPING: Hero cabbie pulls five from pile-up

4:51pm Wednesday 23rd July 2008

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A MAN who helped free four children from the wreckage of a car crash as their mother lay trapped and unconscious in the driver’s seat has been hailed a hero.

Cab driver John Davis was first on the scene following the three-vehicle smash in Epping New Road.

And without any regard for his own life, he battled to free Juliet Anderson’s children and a man trapped in another car, which was on fire.

Juliet’s husband, Robert, told the Guardian: “We’re eternally grateful (for what he did). The police described his actions as incredibly brave and way above what a passer-by would be expected to do.”

Mr Davis, 40, of Cullings Court in Waltham Abbey, was on his way to work in London when he saw the accident.

He told the Guardian: “I could see this cluster of vehicles in the distance and then all of a sudden I saw one of the vehicles go up in the air really, really high. I couldn’t believe how high it went. I had to brake really hard to stop short.

“She (Mrs Anderson’s Ford Galaxy car) came down on four wheels and shot into the woods. The woman was unconscious – I was frightened of the car bursting into flames.”

Mr Davis and two women, whose car was also involved, managed to get the children – ten-year-old twins James and Nicholas, seven-year-old Alex and Ollie, four – out of the back seats before fire crews arrived.

Fire-fighters then spent more than an hour battling to free Mrs Anderson.

Mr Anderson said: “The engine was on my wife’s lap and it took one-and-a-half hours to cut her out.”

But before the emergency services arrived, Mr Davis also helped drag an unconscious man from a Renault Megane as it caught fire, and then placed the stricken man in the recovery position.

Mr Davis then returned to Mrs Anderson, who had regained consciousness and was asking whether her children were safe.

Reflecting on his actions, Mr Davis said it was a “miracle” no-one was killed.

He said: “They (the children) were perfectly strapped in. If she hadn’t been such a considerate mother and strapped them in properly it would have been a completely different story. She would have had at least a couple of dead kids.”

Mrs Anderson has spent much of the time sleeping since she was discharged from Princess Alexandra Hospital.

She also suffered ankle ligament damage which has left her having to use crutches, while her four children suffered severe bruising.

Mr Anderson said: “We’re not out of the woods yet, but it’s a miracle – thanks to good car design; namely an air bag that runs down the entire side of the car.”

Mrs Anderson and the boys, who live in Loughton, had been returning from a brass music concert at Chipping Ongar Primary School when the accident happened near the junction of Epping New Road and Upshire Road at about 9.40pm on Friday, July 11.

A 36-year-old man, who sustained internal and leg injuries, has been released on police bail after being arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drink or drugs.

A 50-year-old woman from Waltham Abbey who was driving a Citroen, and her passenger, were uninjured.

Any other witnesses to the collision are asked to call the Chigwell road policing unit on 01279 621866.