A young woman has described her miraculous survival following a horrific multi-vehicle collision on the M42 motorway, stating she feels incredibly fortunate to be alive.
'It Felt Like an Explosion': The Terrifying Impact
Kimberley Ryder, aged 21, was travelling with 24-year-old Callum Tweedie from Birmingham when the incident occurred. Her black Volkswagen Polo was struck by a heavy goods vehicle in a crash that involved several other lorries and cars. Recounting the moment of impact, Ryder described it as feeling like an explosion, which left her trapped within the crushed metal of her vehicle.
Footage from the scene vividly captured the extensive damage to her car, with both sides and a wheel severely affected. Emergency services, including fire crews and paramedics, mounted a complex rescue operation, working for over an hour to carefully cut her free from the wreckage. Remarkably, Ryder remained conscious throughout the entire ordeal and has since praised the bravery and skill of the first responders who saved her.
Miraculous Survival and Major Motorway Disruption
Despite her car being left almost unrecognisable, Kimberley Ryder escaped with non-life-threatening injuries that attending doctors have labelled as remarkable. She is currently recovering in hospital, being treated for broken bones and severe bruising sustained in the shunt.
The serious collision caused total gridlock on the M42, forcing a closure that lasted for several hours during a busy festive period. The incident led to miles of tailbacks for commuters. National Highways crews were required to carry out emergency repairs to the central reservation before all lanes could be safely reopened to traffic.
A Vital Road Safety Message from the Survivor
Now on the road to recovery, Kimberley Ryder hopes that by sharing her harrowing experience, she can urge other drivers to exercise extra caution, particularly when driving near large lorries in winter conditions. She attributes her survival in such extreme circumstances to two critical factors: wearing her seatbelt and the structural integrity of her Volkswagen Polo.
Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the potential dangers on the motorway network and the life-saving importance of vehicle safety features and vigilant driving.
