A TRAUMATISED young woman today told how she miraculously survived an horrific car crash which left her with a broken pelvis.Chantell Vorster, said the accident occurred after a bungee cord snapped causing the bonnet of the car she was in to flip up and smash the windscreen.

A TRAUMATISED youngster today told how she miraculously survived an horrific car crash which left her with a broken pelvis.

Chantell Vorster, said the accident occurred after a bungee cord snapped causing the bonnet of the car she was in to flip up and smash the windscreen.

The 20-year-old said she watched in terror as vehicles whizzed past while she and the driver were left stranded in the fast lane of the A14 at Trimley St Martin.

Shortly after their blue Volkswagen Golf was struck by another vehicle leaving her trapped and in intense pain.

Miss Vorster, of California Lane, Hintlesham, cried as she experienced one of her regular flashbacks while recalling what happened before the accident around 4.50pm on Sunday, May 6.

The apprentice hairdresser and former model said: “One of my friend's friends offered to take me to have a tattoo done so I accepted the offer and we went to Felixstowe.

“We left to go back home on the A14 and I saw his bonnet was flapping, bouncing like a ball.

“There was a bungee cord holding it down.”

South African-born Miss Vorster said once she saw the makeshift repair job she was concerned something awful could happen.

Soon afterwards the flapping bonnet flew up and hit the windscreen.

She said: “We stopped. Cars were whizzing past us at 70 to 80 mph for about three minutes.

“Then a car hit us on the side I was sitting. We travelled for about 100 yards before the car swerved round.

“I had an asthma attack. I was trying to get the seat belt off - I couldn't breath.

“I was very, very scared. I tried to get out of the car, but I couldn't move.

“I was conscious but I wanted to black-out because the pain was unbelievable.”

Emergency services arrived at the scene and Miss Vorster was cut from the car by firefighters and taken to Ipswich Hospital, along with three other people, where she was later told she had fractured her pelvis in two places as well as fracturing part of her back, near her spine.

Officers at the scene of the accident said it was “a miracle” no one had been killed in the crash.

Miss Vorster spent a week in hospital before being moved to the Bluebird Lodge Rehabilitation Centre in Ravenswood, Ipswich, where she said she received fantastic care before returning home two weeks ago.

Now Miss Vorster is hoping to rebuild her life but she still suffers flashbacks and is struggling to cope with using crutches as a result of her injuries.

She said: “I'm crying all the time and I don't want to do anything.

“I'm taking lots of medication - every four hours - because I'm still in a lot of pain.

“I regret getting into that car. I wouldn't have done if I'd known the bonnet was tied down with a bungee cord.”

Has a crash changed your life? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.