Novelist feared death in horror car smash

From the Echo, first published Friday 17th Oct 2003.

AUTHOR Nicola Thorne told how her writing career was wrecked in a horrific car crash as a man appeared in court for dangerous driving.

The best selling novelist, who appeared at Dorchester Crown Court with an eye patch and walking stick, said she thought she was going to die in the smash near Bridport.

Recorder Dermod O'Brien gave car dealer Charles Harrison, 41, of Hillside Avenue, Plymouth, an absolute discharge and banned him from driving for life after hearing how he suffered a sudden diabetic attack before ploughing into Mrs Thorne.

Mrs Thorne, who had an eye patch and walking stick when she sat in court under her real name of Rosa Ellerbeck, told of the crash on the A35 near East Road in Bridport.

Mrs Thorne said in a witness statement: "I was airlifted from the scene to hospital.

"I remember I was in terrific pain and screaming in pain.

"I had broken ribs and a broken sternum, a fractured skull and severe bruising all over.

"I was badly cut and at first I thought I was going to die, and I posed that question to someone who trying to help me."

Mrs Thorne, who lives near Chideock was in intensive care for 10 days. She has had six operations on her eyes and they are not expected to fully recover from the crash.

The court heard how she becomes tired easily and no longer had a wiring contract and income because she couldn't see the computer screen properly to write.

Mrs Thorne, who is in her 60s, has penned more than 40 novels including My Name is Martha Brown, about the last woman to be hanged in Dorchester.

Recorder O'Brien heard how Harrison crashed head-on into her car while trying to overtake another vehicle just after 3pm in early September 2003.

Nigel Mitchell, prosecuting, said witnesses reported Harrison driving very erratically before the accident.

He said: "They said Mr Harrison was overtaking when it was dangerous and as a consequence at least one car and one articulated lorry were forced to leave the road to avoid a head-on collision.

He added that Harrison failed to stop his Mitsubishi after a collision with another car and span after hitting a roundabout kerb that left him with a flat tyre before hitting Mrs Thorne and overturning.

Recorder O'Brien heard how Harrison had followed doctors' instructions to cope with his diabetes, had been told he was safe to drive and had no warning of a hypoglycaemic attack caused by low blood sugar before the crash.

He said: "You are a devoted family man and responsible member of society.

"It is tragic that somebody like you has to end up in dock in this way at all."

Archive Home