Appeal for driver to give himself up

AN appeal for a hit-and-run driver to give himself up was made today by the family of a 20-year-old crash victim whose back was broken in four places.

James Hunt was driven off the road by a silver hatchback that had overtaken his Mini Cooper in Birchwood Road, Dedham, at 2.10pm on Easter Sunday.

It is believed the driver of the hatchback saw a vehicle approaching and cut back in front of Mr Hunt's car, clipping its rear passenger wheel and causing it to hit a roadside verge.

The Mini then ricocheted into the path of an oncoming minibus. The impact of the collision caused Mr Hunt to be thrown from his car, which flipped in the process.

Although a number of witnesses stopped to help at the scene, the hatchback continued on.

With Mr Hunt facing the prospect of spending weeks in Colchester General Hospital, his family pleaded with the anonymous driver to contact police.

Lesley, his mother, said: “We're not after revenge or anything like that but it would be nice to move forward.”

Kevin Findlay, his stepfather, added: “We're not on a witch-hunt. It would make things easier from James' point of view if the person responsible came forward. It would be much better from the driver's point of view too if he contacted the police himself.”

Mr Hunt, of Boxhouse Lane, is currently undergoing scans as doctors work out the best way to treat his injuries.

Mr Findlay said: “He has got feeling in his toes and legs but the doctors are worried there might be the potential for further damage if he's not dealt with in the proper manner.”

The driver of the hatchback was described as a man of large build and the female passenger was a blond woman.

The occupants of the vehicle, or anyone else with information about the crash, are asked to contact Stanway road policing unit on 01206 762512.