Learner's confidence shattered by hit and run

Dec 31 2009 By Adam Courtney

Sarah-Jane Garside, a learner driver, with her father Bernhard

A LEARNER driver has had her confidence shattered after a thug smashed into her car and drove off without stopping.

Distraught Sarah-Jane Garside, 17, of Cumbernauld Gardens, Sunbury, says the incident on Christmas Eve in Spelthorne Lane, Charlton, which left her Ford Ka ruined, has made her think twice about driving.

And, after her Christmas was badly spoiled by the incident, her civil servant father, Bernhard, is appealing to the public to help catch the driver before he destroys someone else's confidence.

He said: "It's unbelievable for someone to do that in the first place, but to then not stop is unforgivable."

Sarah, who has a brother, Connor, 13, and sister, Kelly, 11, was driving with an instructor towards Sunbury from Charlton Village and approaching the mini roundabout just before Spelthorne Lane and Ashford Road when she noticed a driver in a Vauxhall – the model of which witnesses described as a Vectra – speeding up behind her.

Halfway round the roundabout, the driver attempted to overtake her and slammed into the driver's door, shunting the car onto the pavement. The assailant then sped off.

"According to the instructor, the driver must have tried to overtake her on the wrong side of the roundabout," said Bernhard. "The damage to the car has been considerable and it could be a write-off, but Sarah-Jane has been left badly shaken by what happened and is seriously weary about getting in a car again.

"It was a pretty awful way to start Christmas and she was very subdued on Christmas Day and cried a lot. We were regularly checking her to see if she had whiplash but fortunately she was not badly hurt and, although she has had a few headaches, it could have been a lot worse."

A Surrey Police spokesman said: "A silver Vauxhall Vectra collided with the Ford Ka, causing damage to the front wing and bumper. The Vectra failed to stop and drove away from the scene towards Staines Road West at high speed. No one was injured as a result of the collision.

"Anyone who witnessed the incident or with any information should call Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222, quoting reference P09408549, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."