Trowbridge cabbie fights for life after crash
9:26am Friday 29th October 2010
The family of a popular Trowbridge taxi firm owner are keeping a bedside vigil after a three-car collision at an accident blackspot.
Mike Henley, who has been a taxi driver for 16 years, was airlifted to hospital and left with life- threatening injuries following the crash on the A350 at the Stoney Gutter crossroads shortly before 2.30pm on Saturday.
Mr Henley has owned A & D Taxis in Station Approach, Trowbridge, for 10 years and was driving to a job in Steeple Ashton at the time of the accident.
The 44-year-old’s partner of seven years, Natalie Burton, who is also a driver for A & D as well as working in the office, confirmed Mr Henley was still in a critical condition but thanked his employees for their support.
“The drivers are doing their utmost to try and help,” she said.
“A wife of one of our drivers has been covering for me in the office so I can go to the hospital to see Mike, which is a really gesture."
“I came into the office about 5pm on Saturday and one of the drivers told me there had been an accident."
“We both more or less live in the office here. It’s a big part of his life."
The 44-year-old’s brother, Julian, was in Austria on business at the time of the crash but flew back the next day to see his brother at the Royal United Hospital, Bath.
He said: “It’s going to be a long road to recovery. We were hoping he might be okay for Christmas but we’ll have to wait and see."
“He has got quite extensive injuries."
“He’s got a broken pelvis and damaged two ribs."
“He had an operation on his stomach when he got there. He also had to have his spleen removed."
“Since he’s been in hospital he’s been sedated."
“We’re keeping our fingers crossed he pulls through."
“He hasn’t got any worse, which is good."
“My sister, my mum and dad and Mike’s girlfriend, as well as some nieces and nephews, have all been.” Yesterday he remained in a critical condition.
“We’ve tried to keep someone by his side at all times.”
The Bratton man’s family, who are originally from Holt, have thanked the emergency services for all their help, saying: “We’d all like to thank the emergency services who attended the scene and the assistance they’ve given us afterwards.
“The nurses and doctors at the RUH are also fantastic and we’d like to extend our thanks to them also.”
Traffic police are appealing for witnesses to the crash, which led to the A350 being closed for nine hours while officers from the serious collision team carried out investigations at the scene.
A blue Land Rover Discovery being driven by a 32-year-old man from the Devizes area was heading towards Semington when it collided with Mr Henley’s Rover 75.
The Rover was shunted into a Volvo estate which had been stationary on the Semington side of the junction.
The drivers of the Land Rover and Volvo also received treatment at the RUH for minor injuries.
Anyone with information about the incident can call the serious collision investigation department at Chippenham on 0845 408 7000.
Source; http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/84 ... ter_crash/
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