A MOTHER from Westbury has spoken of her sincere gratitude after her two young sisters saved her daughter from being hit by a van in the town centre.
Lauren Taylor, who owns Craftology in Maristow Street, was working in the shop on Saturday 10th June when she heard a huge bang. She left the shop a few minutes later to see what was going on and found police and ambulance at the scene of an accident which had involved her three year-old daughter, Alice, and Lauren’s young sisters.
A white van travelling along the High Street, hit the rotunda and then accelerated onto the curb towards Lauren’s daughter Alice, and her sisters, Elly who is 10 years old and Anna, 15, who were walking back to Lauren’s shop.
Lauren said, “My sisters were holding each of Alice’s hands and very bravely pulled her out of the way and his van smashed into the bollard rather than her.
“I’m so proud of my sisters and so incredibly grateful to them because there is no doubt that they saved Alice’s life that day. She was directly in his path and their quick thinking saved her – they are heroes.
“They had gone to the card shop with my mum but decided to walk back down to my shop. They were walking on the path and are very sensible – you just don’t expect this sort of thing to happen, especially in the middle of the day.
“The police and paramedics were fantastic and really quick to arrive and an officer from Melksham has been keeping me updated. The girls were checked over but didn’t have any serious injuries, just a few cuts from being hit by debris.
“Everyone is still very shaken up, understandably. Alice hasn’t slept at all since it happened and Elly and Anna have been to see a child psychologist to help them process what happened.
“I’m so grateful to the people who ran to help, rang the police and ambulance and did what they could to make sure the girls were ok.
“I’m still feeling quite shocked but relieved that no-one was seriously hurt or worse.”
Lauren’s mum, Julie Wakefield said, “What was so lovely in that horrible situation was how many people came to help. Everyone left the shops and rushed over bringing bottles of water and sweets for the girls. It just shows how great the Westbury community is and how genuinely worried people were for the girls. It’s wonderful to live in a place that cares so much for people.”
A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said, “Giles Gilbert, aged 45, of Warminster Road, Westbury, has been charged with driving a vehicle otherwise in accordance with a licence, drink driving and using a vehicle without insurance. He is due to appear at Salisbury Magistrates Court on July 7.”
