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Journalist cheats death in fatal ‘fireball’ crash

A regional press journalist has told of how his life was saved when he was involved in a horrific road crash which turned his car into a fireball and killed a motorcyclist.

Richard Edmonds, literary editor at the Birmingham Post, was trapped in his burning Vauxhall Corsa following the collision and was pulled free by two passers-by who he says saved his life.

The incident took place on 30 October at 2pm on a notorious junction on the A458 at Six Ashes, near Bridgnorth, and resulted in the death of 66-year-old biker Allan Green, from Cradley Heath, who died at the scene.

Richard is now recovering at his home near Kidderminster following the crash, which led to him being treated in hospital for minor injuries and severe shock.

Richard's car following the crash

He told sister title the Birmingham Mail about how grateful he was to the two people who had pulled him out of his car before it exploded.

Said Richard: “They were angels. I was trapped in the car and the driver’s door was a wall of flames. They were shouting at me ‘the car is going to go up’.

“But my leg was trapped between the door and the steering wheel and I couldn’t get out.

“So I put out my arms and they grabbed my wrists and dragged me out, I think through the passenger door window. I just collapsed, I couldn’t stand, I was incoherent. Then the car exploded.”

He added: “It had been a perfect day. I was on what seemed a perfectly safe, empty road when suddenly there was huge impact and the car spun around.

“At first I didn’t know what had happened. I suddenly had a wrenching pain in my back, there was windscreen glass all over my face and in my eyes.

“I heard a roaring sound from under the car and was shouting for help when my two rescuers appeared. I don’t know who they are, but without doubt I owe them my life.”

The story in the Birmingham Mail can be read here.

4 comments

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  • November 9, 2012 at 10:27 am
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    RIP to the biker, who appears to have been largely forgotten about here.

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  • November 9, 2012 at 10:40 am
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    Amazing story – such bravery from the rescuers. I wish Richard a speedy recovery.

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  • November 9, 2012 at 1:10 pm
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    Bit unkind that Anon….
    R I P indeed to the biker and deepest sympathy to the family.
    BUT the point of the story is the bravery of the rescuers without their intervention the death count would surely have been two.
    Speedy recovery to Richard.

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