Couple tell of shock after freak car crash on Hayling Island

The crumpled Land Rover belonging to David Girton and Sharon Goodsir

David Girton, 60, and his partner Sharon Goodsir, 50, went out in the car to take their six dogs for a walk, but within minutes were in the middle of a horrific crash in Havant Road, Hayling Island.

Mr Girton, who was driving his Land Rover northwards, said a taxi went hurtling into the back of his vehicle, before veering to the right and straight into the path of an oncoming BMW.

Mr Girton’s car was stationary at the time as it had been waiting for another vehicle to turn right down Mill Rythe Lane.

David Girton, 60, and his partner Sharon Goodsir, 50, who were involved in a crash in Havant Road, Hayling Island on September 1

Mr Girton, of Hawthorne Grove, Hayling Island, said his six dogs ‘went flying’ from the impact.

The electrician said: ‘I looked in my mirror and there was a gap between me and the cab.

‘This cab just took off all of a sudden.

‘The BMW driver did not have a chance to see what was going to happen.

‘All of a sudden there was a car in front of him. The two cars just amalgamated together.

‘Everything was a write-off.’

Mr Girton sprang into action to help the other drivers.

‘I jumped out of the car because I could see the smoke coming from the BMW,’ he said.

‘The driver was lunged over and he was screaming that he had chest pains.

‘I said “I have got to get you out” because there’s smoke.

‘It was coming out of the bonnet.’

Mr Girton got the man to a safe place by the road and neighbours came out with blankets.

Mr Girton tried to help the taxi driver, but he was seriously hurt after apparently smashing his head against the windscreen.

Mr Girton said: ‘It was terrifying.

‘You don’t think you are going to face that at 9.15 in the morning.

‘You could see two head marks in the screen where he had hit the windscreen twice. These two big cars ended up crumpled like bin bags.’

The taxi driver was taken to hospital with serious head injuries following the accident on Tuesday. The BMW driver was also seriously hurt.

The couple said their thoughts and prayers were with both of them and they hoped they made a full recovery.

The couple have been left with bad aches and pains after the accident. One of their dogs, Dexter, sustained a leg injury.

Ms Goodsir said: ‘You see these kind of things on the television – but when you are in it, the shock does not set in straight away. I haven’t stopped shaking yet.’

Police are still investigating the circumstances of the crash to find out what happened.