Wheelchair man in pothole crash

12 March 2010

Spencer Pindus

A DISABLED man who was injured when his mobility wheelchair overturned in Romford, sparked a major traffic jam.

Spencer Pindus, 60, who weighs 25 stone, was laying in South Street for more than 30 minutes last week as emergency crews struggled to maneouvre him into an ambulance, using a specially reinforced stretcher.

The former bus driver, from Neave Crescent, Romford, had just finished breakfast in a nearby pub when his motorised chair hit a hole in the ground, throwing him face-first into the road.

Police were forced to close the route - a major bus and taxi thoroughfare - and divert traffic back into Victoria Road until the Mr Pindus was moved, causing long tailbacks.

Mr Pindus blames a large pothole for his accident: "I'm a big man so it takes a lot of force to move me from my chair, but I hit a dip in the road and was just slung out.

"The council needs to get its roads and pavements in order or someone could be seriously hurt in the future."

Mr Pindus, who has multiple sclerosis, was taken to Queen's Hospital, in Rom Valley Way, where he received treatment for cuts to his mouth and bruising to his shoulder and ribs.

He says he is considering legal action against Havering Council.

A council spokesman said: "The hole was immediately fenced off after the accident and has now been filled in. We are investigating exactly what caused this hole to appear.