On 15 May 2016, Pauline’s husband Peter, who she called Tom, was riding his motorbike on Sheffield Road in Dronfield, Derbyshire. He was hit by a car driven by a young driver who had recently passed their driving test, who was pulling out of the petrol station. The exit from the petrol station was obstructed by a parked car and a tall hedge, and later analysis of CCTV footage found that Tom was riding at 39mph in a 30mph zone.
Tom was taken to hospital and when Pauline arrived she was told that his injuries were not considered life-threatening. However, three days later, his condition deteriorated, and he was admitted to an Intensive Care Unit, where nurses worked hard to stabilise him. However, despite their attempts, they were not able to save his life. The later investigation showed that Tom’s heart had stopped as a result of a pulmonary embolism that had travelled up to his lungs from a DVT he had sustained in the crash. Tom was 57 years old.
Upon hearing the news, Pauline was traumatised. Thoughts rushed to her head about how she would continue life with the huge gaping hole Tom’s loss had left. Her daughter was only 16 years old at the time too, and was going through her GCSEs. There was unprecedented trauma, grief and stress. Pauline recounts how she felt like a wreck in the days and months following the crash.
Tom, 57, died from injuries after his motorbike was hit by a newly qualified driver
In memory of my husband, Tom, I want to make sure we are more vigilant on our roads for everyone’s safety. Brake’s National Road Victim Service was a lifeline. The caseworker always had time for me and I urge everyone to support Brake’s work.
It was at her lowest point when Pauline reached out to Brake’s National Road Victim Service to access support. It provided a lifeline of support at this time, allowing Pauline to unload her thoughts and feelings to a listening and empathetic ear. Pauline has since participated in fundraising for Brake, raising money through social media campaigns, highlighting the importance of Brake’s National Road Victim Service. Nothing can bring Tom back, but this fundraising enables Pauline to share his memories.
Pauline wants to remind everybody about the dangers associated with obstructions on roads. Even though a parked car or a hedge may look like minor inconveniences, they can have big impacts on road safety.