A pensioner believes she is ‘lucky’ to be alive after a driver careered into her as she was cleaning her parked vehicle outside her home.
Sheila Chatfield, 68, had just manouevred towards the front end of her black Peugeot 206 to polish the dashboard the day before her father’s funeral.
But seconds later a Mini driver lost control and hurtled into the rear end of Sheila’s car before flipping over onto its roof.
She had been cleaning the car outside her house in Cossall, Nottinghamshire on August 25 when the incident occurred.
CCTV captured the terrifying moment when Sheila became involved in the accident, which left her unconscious and requiring immediate medical attention at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.
She suffered horrific facial injuries, including a fractured skull and severe bruising around her eyes.
The Nottinghamshire Police conducted an investigation into the incident but informed Sheila that no charges would be brought against the Mini driver, citing the reason that the driver had a ‘medical episode’.
While she is sympathetic to the driver, Sheila said she is also a victim and blames the police for making her feel ‘worthless’.Â
Sheila Chatfield, 68, believes she is ‘lucky’ to be alive after a driver careered into her as she was cleaning her parked vehicle outside her home
A Mini driver lost control and hurtled into the rear end of Sheila’s car before flipping over onto its roof during the incident
Sheila expressed her frustration with the police, stating they made her feel ‘worthless’ after their decision not to charge the Mini driver.
She explained, ‘I was fortunate, yet unfortunate. I had just parked my car on the road to make space for my sisters who were coming since it was my dad’s funeral the next day.’
‘I’d noticed the car was a bit scruffy, so I got a can of polish and was leaning into the passenger door.
‘I just remember this smash and my head felt like it exploded. I spoke to my neighbour and asked if I was dying.
‘My car was written off and the other chap’s was as well.
‘It’s a straight road and it’s slightly an incline so if it rains the water goes the other way. It’s easy to lose speed and the speed limit is 30mph.
‘Moments earlier I was in the boot, so I narrowly missed being completely wiped out.
‘I moved around to the passenger door – it was just a matter of seconds to going round – so it could have been fatal.’
Shelia says she now has problems with her balance and difficulties with hearing.
She suffered facial injuries, including a fractured skull and severe bruising around her eyes.
While still recovering from her injuries, Sheila has been informed that Nottinghamshire Police will not be proceeding with charges due to the driver’s medical condition.
She added: ‘I had nine stitches in various places in my scalp. My mastoid bone is fractured and I’ve still got a lump on my forehead.
‘I’ve got jaw ache that’s cropped up now. I’ve got some off-balance when I’ve been looking down, it feels like I’m at sea.
‘I’ve also got really bad tinnitus with popping and whirring sounds.
‘I was just determined to get to my dad’s funeral the next day and it was suddenly after that I flopped.’
Sheila reported the incident to Nottinghamshire Police but was initially informed that charges would not be filed owing to the driver’s medical situation.
Sheila said: ‘How can you be on your own pavement and your car’s written off and nothing?
‘You don’t want to be vindictive, but I just feel like I am worthless.
‘I lost so much that day. It was my dad’s funeral the following day – I did make it, but in a fashion with two very black eyes and sunglasses.
The horrific ordeal happened just a day before the funeral of Sheila’s father
‘This last month has just been the worst of my life. I’ve lost confidence and I just sometimes wonder, am I always going to feel like this?
‘My life feels changed, and no-one seems to actually give it the credence it deserves.’
Her husband Guy, 73, added: ‘It’s six weeks later, we’re only just getting the leaflets for victim support, we should have had that initially.
‘They seem to think that because they’ve got no proof of him speeding, that no offence was committed.
‘They seem to think that smashing into somebody’s car and injuring somebody is not an offence.’
A police spokesperson said: ‘Inquiries at the scene indicated the collision was caused by a medical episode.
‘There were no witnesses to the manner of driving beforehand and officers drugs wiped and breathalysed the driver which was negative.
‘The victim was updated accordingly.
‘Following a review of the case, the investigation was reopened and the driver has since attended a voluntary interview.
‘The investigation remains ongoing and we will continue to keep the victim updated.’
