‘I’m lucky to still be alive after crash...’

Tracey Gilpin, of Stable Close in Wesham, who had a lucky escape when her car crashed due to a damaged road near Moss Side

And Tracey Gilpin predicts that it is a matter of time before someone dies on the same stretch of road – unless safety improvements are carried out.

Mrs Gilpin, 50, of Stable Close, Wesham, says she was estimated by police to be driving at less than 30mph when her vehicle spun out of control in wet conditions on Moss Side Lane, near Lytham.

Firefighters cut Mrs Gilpin out of her vehicle after the crash at 1.30pm on Tuesday March 31.

She was taken to Royal Preston Hospital where she was treated for neck, back and wrist injuries.

Missed

Mrs Gilpin believes subsidence in the road caused her to lose control of her vehicle, which narrowly missed a telegraph pole and hit a fence.

Since the accident, Lancashire County Council has put out cones to “make drivers aware of a depression at the side of the road”.

“I know councils have financial restrictions but surely you have to put human lives first?” said Mrs Gilpin.

“One moment I was driving carefully and the next thing I remember I am in a written-off car, facing the wrong way, and in pain all over my body.

“I have questioned myself so many times since about whether I could have done anything to avoid spinning off the road – and the frightening thing is there isn’t.

“I got dragged off simply because the road is in such poor condition.”

There have been several accidents on the same stretch of road between Lytham and Wrea Green, including an incident in February when a vehicle ended up on its roof.

“I feel angry that lives are being risked,” Mrs Gilpin.

“The emergency services at the scene told me that if my car had hit the telegraph pole head-on then I probably wouldn’t be here to tell the tale. I feel very strongly that something should be done immediately to stop this happening again.

“The consequences next time could be much worse.”

Lancashire County Council say action has already been taken.

Paul Dunne, Lancashire County Council highways manager for Fylde, said: “We met with the police at the site of this incident and have taken the precaution of putting out cones and a sign to make drivers aware of a depression at the side of the road.

“When we receive the police report into the incident we’ll consider any further action that may be needed.”