Seatbelt saves life of teenager

8:17pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

A TEENAGER who was involved in an horrific car accident says wearing a seatbelt saved her life.

Nicola Stott and her three friends, Rachael Waterworth, Jenny Howarth and Andrew Best, all aged 18, were travelling back from a night out in Bolton in the early hours of Saturday morning when their taxi was hit head-on by a suspected drink-driver.

Nicola, of The Cheethams, Blackrod, said: "I remember an initial impact and thinking something had hit the car. We all screamed and asked each other what had happened. Then, it felt like we had smacked into something else and we realised we'd hit another car.

"I'm so glad I had a seatbelt on. It saved my life."

The Rivington and Blackrod High sixth form pupils were out in town celebrating after their leavers party at the Last Drop Hotel in Bromley Cross.

They got into a taxi in Bradshawgate to go home to Blackrod. But at around 2.05am, as they were travelling along Deane Road, Deane, a Mitsubishi car crossed over to their side of the road and smashed into the taxi.

The three other passengers managed to get themselves out of the car but Nicola was trapped in her seat.

She said: "I remember being held in to my seat by the seatbelt.

"Andrew tried to get me out and I fell onto the floor of the taxi. I couldn't get up, my back was hurting me.

"Then someone realised I had blood coming from just below my knee. Someone's stiletto heal had gone through my left shin and blood was pouring out but I couldn't even feel it because my back was so sore."

A passer-by who saw the incident stemmed the blood flow with Andrew's tie.

A-level student Nicola was cut from the taxi by firefighters and rushed to the Royal Bolton Hospital where she had seven stitches in her leg. She was released several hours later, to recuperate at home.

Nicola was due to celebrate her 18th birthday the following day, Sunday, but was in too much pain, with bruises on her back, chest, and shoulder, to enjoy it.

The trainee dance teacher at Theatre Dance School in Astley Bridge, said: "Even though the seatbelt crushed and bruised me it definitely saved me."

She added: "I hope the driver who hit us will think about what he's done and how he put four young people in danger.

The driver of the Mitsibushi was arrested a short time later.

The taxi driver, Sajid Butt from Great Lever, was also cut from the car and taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said a 40-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of drink driving was released on police bail until June 19.

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