Fears a driver could be killed in next crash

Desperate pleas to lower speed limits have been made after a crash at an accident blackspot left one woman “lucky to be alive”.

A 30-year-old woman was left with serious injuries earlier this month when her vehicle was involved in a head-on crash with a bus on the A131 in Bulmer outside the Bulmer Fox pub.

Neighbouring resident Eddie Brown, who was the first person on the scene, has pleaded for further speed restrictions before someone is killed.

The 50-year-old said that, since moving to the village three years ago, there had been 30 collisions on the stretch of road, describing the most recent crash as “by far the worst” with the woman “lucky to be alive”.

Mr Brown, a former firefighter, said the stretch of road outside the pub was an accident blackspot.

Several of the neighbouring homes carry the scars of the accidents, with broken fences and holes in bushes where cars have careered off the road. In one crash, a car ended up in Mr Brown’s front garden.

“It’s driving us insane,” he said. “In the last three months, there have been four or five crashes.

“We had the bus driver in our lounge absolutely distraught the other week.

“I was a firefighter, so I am hardened to it, but my family aren’t.”

Mr Brown feels the current 50mph speed limit is inappropriate, especially in the winter.

“It all starts when the clocks go back,” he said. “And when it’s wet, the tarmac is so slippery.

“Often, they either come round the bend too fast or clip the curb and can’t control it.

“I hate inappropriate speed limits but I want people to drive and get there safely – and people aren’t getting there on this part of the road.”

Mr Brown has tried to get the speed limit changed but without success and said he did not want to be the one to say “I told you so”.

The woman, who had to be cut free by firefighters, was taken to Colchester Hospital with serious injuries.