A WOMAN escaped serious injury when her Land Rover overturned on Saturday (January 20) on an icy Wellington road where drains have remained blocked through the winter.

Somerset Council was warned about the drains on Burchills Hill, between Tonedale and Westford, last autumn.

But they remained blocked and at the weekend resulted in water overflowing onto the road and freezing in the sub-zero temperatures.

Marcus Fudge, of Tim Potter's butchers (in white coat), and a passing jogger attempt to break the crashed Land Rover's windscreen.
Marcus Fudge, of Tim Potter's butchers (in white coat), and a passing jogger attempt to break the crashed Land Rover's windscreen. (Chris Penney)

The woman driver was heading home to Tone Hill and cut through Burchills Hill shortly before 10 am on Saturday when she hit sheet ice on a downhill section and lost control of the Land Rover, which ended up on its side.

First on the scene was Marcus Fudge, who works for Wellington butcher Tim Potter, who said initially there was so much smoke he could not see what had happened.

A passing jogger then joined Mr Fudge as they smashed through the vehicle’s windscreen to reach the trapped woman.

Aviation enthusiast Chris Penney, who lives in Tonedale, arrived as they did so and he climbed into the vehicle to comfort the woman despite the risk from leaking fuel which was running down the road.

Both Wellington fire engines were mobilised to the crash site along with a South Western Ambulance Services NHS Trust land ambulance crew and police officers.

One of the drains in Burchills Hill, Wellington, completely covered by ice at the scene of a car crash on Saturday.
One of the drains in Burchills Hill, Wellington, completely covered by ice at the scene of a car crash on Saturday. (Chris Penney)

The firefighters were able to free the woman from the vehicle and contain the escaping fuel, which was at risk of entering local watercourses.

The woman, whose husband and daughter arrived as she was being rescued, was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital, in Taunton, where her injuries were said to be ‘not serious’.

Water can be seen pouring from a blocked drain in Burchills Hill, Wellington, and flowing downhill where it froze into sheet ice, with the crash scene just visible.
Water can be seen pouring from a blocked drain in Burchills Hill, Wellington, and flowing downhill where it froze into sheet ice, with the crash scene just out of view. (Chris Penney)

The road was blocked in both directions for several hours until the vehicle was recovered by a low-loader truck, although Linden Nursing Home could be reached from the Rockwell Green direction.

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A view of the crash scene on Burchills Hill, Wellington.

Somerset Council was asked to explain why the drains on Burchills Hill were blocked despite the warning given last year.

A spokesperson said: "Our teams are inspecting the immediate area of the incident and we will be happy to work with police to understand the circumstances."

► Both Wellington fire crews were also in action on Friday morning (January 19), when they were sent to Bradford on Tone.

Two cars were in collision on a bend in Regent Street, which blocked the road for a short time.

The firefighters helped paramedics who attended to the casualties and provided scene safety support.