Teen's leg may be saved by doctors after horror accident

11:29am Thursday 12th November 2009

By Victoria Ashford

A teenager biker is recovering in hospital after suffering serious leg injuries in a crash in Bradford on Avon.

It was feared the 19-year-old man from Chippenham would lose his leg due to the injuries he sustained in the crash, but doctors now think they can save it.

The teenager was airlifted by the Wiltshire Air Ambulance to the Royal United Hospital in Bath, after his Honda Shadow Vulcan trike was in a collision with a black Ford Focus, on the B3109 at Bradford Leigh at about 11.30am last Thursday.

The man’s parents were riding behind him on a separate motorbike. His father, 54, suffered a sprained ankle while his mother, 52, was unhurt.

A worker at The Plough Inn, close to where the accident happened, said: “I went up there to the crash about an hour after it happened, to see what progress had been made to reopen the road. The police were still busy with their investigations and the people involved had been taken away.

“It’s a notoriously bad Z-bend and there is far too much speeding on that road and people cut the corners.

“Down at the Leigh Park junction there are always accidents. It’s primarily down to speeding.”

But after three operations this week, PC Mark Morrison, who is leading the investigation into the crash, said that doctors are hopeful the teen’s leg can be saved.

The road between Bradford on Avon and Box Five Ways was closed for four hours while investigations were carried out and the road was cleared of debris.

Sergeant Neil Berrett, of Bradford on Avon Police, said: “I can’t comment on the collision as it is still being investigated by our Serious Collision Investigations Team.

“The stretch of road concerned does contain a series of sharp bends which I believe are well signed, providing prior notice of the hazard.

"This is a timely reminder that all our roads, particularly in and around Bradford on Avon this time of year, should be driven with care.

"Wet, windy, and leaf-littered roads do require a higher standard of awareness by all drivers.”

Sgt Berrett said if investigations show any defects in the road then Wiltshire Council’s highways department would be informed.