Injury news

Passengers sustain whiplash injuries as van crashes at petrol station

Passengers travelling in a van that careered into a petrol pump have been lucky to escape the crash with minor whiplash injuries.

Firefighters were called to the Total petrol station on the A27 between Havant and Chichester after a van ploughed across the forecourt on the 26th October.

The van hit a pump in the vehicle accident and sent it flying into the air, sparking a minor fire.

Fortunately, the fire was unable to spread because of a safety mechanism which had been fitted to the pump, preventing flammable petrol from leaking.

Motorists filling up their cars at the station were lucky to escape suffering any burn injuries in the accident.

Havant Fire Crew Manager, Buster Brown, said, "If someone had been filling up their car, there would have been a very serious accident.

"The impact from the van ripped the petrol pump right out the ground and threw it about five metres across the forecourt. It then caught fire."

Mr Brown said that a similar car accident happened recently, which involved a female passenger who crashed into the same pump.

"We have been to several crashes at this petrol garage over the past ten years. Perhaps the slip road is too short or drivers are not paying attention when they decelerate." He said.

The driver of the van escaped the motor accident without suffering any serious personal injuries but two passengers were treated for whiplash.