Pair rescue couple from runaway car in Sunderland

Jun 26 2009 by Rob Pattinson, The Journal

A GROCER and a passer-by were hailed as heroes last night after rescuing an elderly woman from a runaway car.

Kelly Maughan and Gerard Robinson – known as Ged – heard screams as the Citroen family car careered out of control, on Victoria Road, Concord, Washington yesterday.

Still trapped inside, the female passenger cried out for help as her husband was dragged along the ground from the still-open door.

It is not clear how the driver came to be on the ground outside the vehicle.

But eye-witnesses have told how quick-thinking Kelly reacted by catching the wheel from outside the car and guiding the silver hatchback past the parked cars it seemed certain to hit.

With no experience of driving, the 25-year-old did not know how to stop the car as it rolled towards concrete bollards at the end of the street, leaving the driver in the road behind it.

Ged sprinted the width of the village centre to throw himself in front of the car. After trying to stop it with his hands, the 42-year-old jumped behind the wheel and pulled on the hand-brake inches from impact.

Even in the desperation of the moment the have-a-go-hero retained enough composure to say “Excuse me pet” as he took the wheel from Kelly.

Both returned to help the injured driver, left lying in the road by the accident. Ged, of Wessington Terrace, Concord, said: “I’m proud of myself I think. It was good to help someone.

“I just didn’t think. I just did it. I saw the woman screaming, her face was white. I could see her inside the car and she looked panicked.

“I could see Kelly running by the car but she couldn’t stop it. I just ran over and tried to push the car back but it had too much momentum.

“Then I just said excuse me pet and pulled the hand-brake on. We checked the wife was OK then went back to help the man up. He had a nasty gash on his hand.”