More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A husband and wife spent more than an hour warning drivers of a fallen tree, but say one man was lucky not be injured after driving straight into it.
Mark and Noleen Skudder called police at 9.53pm last night after discovering the tree blocking the Ratcliffe Highway near Allhallows.
Together they turned away more than 90 cars, but one driver did not see the warning - and his car became airborne after hitting the tree.
"Despite waving, flashing and tooting, the car drove straight into the tree at speed," said Mr Skudder.
"It was coming from the other direction and sailed passed us as it hit the tree. It rose in the air about four feet."
He said the driver was uninjured, but added: "His car was not drive-able after that and he abandoned it after he had been picked up by a friend.
"Without lights on, the tree was hidden and we we were concerned a nasty accident might occur, so we stayed until the obstruction was gone.
"My wife and I called the police several times and we were told that the police would be there ‘imminently’ as soon as they were available.
"We stressed that we would stay, but the police were needed asap to avoid an accident."
The couple also warned people via Facebook, and received a number of offers of assistance in return.
Mr Skudder said the police did not arrive while they were at the scene, but eventually tree surgeons showed up at 11.26pm to clear the road, and police later called him to ask where the abandoned car was.
Police spokesman Chris Herbert said: "Police were called at 9.53pm on 25 October 2019 to reports of a tree blocking Ratcliffe Highway, Rochester.
"Shortly afterwards, officers alerted Medway Council so they could attend to clear the blockage and remained in regular contact with members of the public at the scene.
"The earliest available officers attended the scene and located an abandoned vehicle."
