Residents in Winnersh have said it’s only a matter of time before someone is killed on what they have said is a dangerous stretch of road.
Hatch Farm Way, which links King Street Lane to Lower Earley Way, has been the scene of at least 12 accidents in the past three years.
Most recently, a driver was flung from a vehicle, and another was released by fire crews. The Thames Valley Air Ambulance was also in attendance for one of the incidents.
All of the accidents have happened on the same stretch of the road, with vehicles travelling from King Street Lane, near a bend in the road.
One resident highlighted the pedestrian refuges and bollards, along with the adverse camber, being contributing factors.
Another who has taken on the task of coordinating reports and information from other residents, is calling for a redesign of the road.
Melanie Kendall-Reid has been one of the first on the scene at many of the accidents.
Her property is one of the closest to the stretch of road. The former emergency services worker is also a trained first responder.
She told Wokingham Today: “We really need something to be done. It seems like someone has to die before anyone will take action.”
She explained how she is worried every time there’s a noise outside her property.
She recently helped to comfort and hold one of the injured drivers, an incident which left her with blood covering her hands.
“I was able to keep the driver from moving as it was clear she had suffered a very serious injury.
“Others were suggesting she needed to be moved, but moving someone can cause even more injuries.
“I kept her still until the emergency services arrived.”
Melanie said she felt the combination of the bollards, the camber and excessive speed on the 40 mph road are all contributing factors as to why there have been a large number of incidents in the same, 100-metre area.
“It’s a perfect storm of conditions,” she said.
She offered a possible solution.
“Maybe one way to address these accidents is to install a speed camera.
“Drivers will see it and slow down for fear of being captured on camera.
“It might also make them aware of the need to take extra care on that part of the road.”
In the meantime, she is contemplating putting a first aid kit by her front door for when the next accident happens.
“I shouldn’t have to even think about doing that, but it’s only a matter of time before the next one.”
Many of the accidents have been documented and recorded by local residents. CCTV has also captured some of them, footage which was subsequently provided to Thames Valley Police.
Residents said they have raised the issues with local councillors, and were told the road had passed its safety audit.
One added: “For bad things to continue, it’s only necessary that good people do nothing.”
Wokingham Borough Council declined to comment, citing the fact there is a live police investigation into the cause of the road traffic accident.
