A SHAKEN driver has said he could have died in a horror crash at an accident blackspot in Bradfield.

Nicky Barrett, 45, was driving down Brickman’s Hill, on the B1352 between Mistley and Bradfield, at about 11am last Tuesday when he lost control of his vehicle on a sharp corner and smashed into a metal barrier.

Mr Barrett, of Clayton Road, Ramsey, who was driving his Ford Focus, said he was approaching the corner of Brickman’s Bridge between 20mph and 25mph in heavy rain heading towards Harwich when he lost control of his steering on the bend.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard:

  • Damage - Mr Barrett's car had to be written off after the accident

The father-of-three said: “I was heading towards the corner where the bridge starts and the car spun round once and then went sideways towards the bridge’s brick wall and I pushed on the breaks to hit the barriers.

“In the short space of time where I was losing control, I knew that I could not hit into the brick wall or I might have died from the impact.”

After the car smashed into the metal barrier Mr Barrett managed to climb out of his car and the driver behind him checked he was okay.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard:

  • Write off - The bumper and bonnet was wrecked in the crash 

He said: “Once I was out of the car, I could see how the young girl lost her life and it made my heart stop.”

Looking at the damage of his car, Mr Barrett said the bumper fell off, and the bonnet was completely smashed.

“The car was in an awful state, but I managed to get my indicators working and put my hazard lights on to drive back to my home in Ramsey,” he said.

After he made it home, he got a taxi to the Mayflower Medical centre and was told he had muscle tears and strains to the bottom of his spine.

Nicky, who works as a carer for his wife Mandy and son Nick, 15, is having to use a mountain bike to get around and do the family shopping.

He said he has not been behind a wheel since the accident and is not sure if he will get another car or drive again.

“I just cannot get the accident out of my head,” he said.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard:

  • Fatal spot - Just months earlier Carys Hammond, 18, died in a crash on the same bridge

“I want to attend the next Local Highways Panel meeting and show people what damage the stretch of road can do with the hope that safety measures will be installed soon.”

In April 18-year-old Carys Hammond died after her car crashed into the bridge.

Since then there have been multiple calls for safety measures on the road.