Dad's thanks for accident saviour who found son collapsed in road following crash

A 24-year-old man is recovering in hospital after his car crashed into a tree on the A371 near the Bath and West Showground late on Friday night.

This week his father has praised the good Samaritan who found his son collapsed at the side of the road and raised the alarm.

Car salesman Marcus Cliffe, of Alweston, near Sherborne, was driving home from his job in Bristol just before midnight when his blue Toyota Yaris left the road, crashed through a railing and hit a tree near the showground.

Police believe his car veered off the road after skidding on a patch of frozen water across the road near the entrance to the Jet Ski Centre.

Although seriously injured, Mr Cliffe managed to walk for a third of a mile further south towards Pecking Mill along the A371 before collapsing and being found by a passing motorist who called the emergency services.

Dad Paul Cliffe said: "Marcus doesn't recall anything at all. He remembers being in Bristol but doesn't remember anything after then which I'm led to believe is quite normal.

"Whoever the passerby was who noticed him face down in the mud, we want to thank them very much indeed. Goodness knows what would have happened if he wasn't seen."

Police, road ambulances and an air ambulance were called to the scene.

At the location there was an area of water streaming across the road which was freezing.

Marcus was taken to Yeovil District Hospital with severe head injuries where he was transferred to an intensive-care unit.

Doctors discovered a blood clot on his brain which they hope will disperse naturally and not require operating on.

Marcus regained consciousness on Sunday evening and was moved to a hospital ward on Monday.

Mr Cliffe said: "We were notified at about 2am on Saturday morning by local police who didn't have any details of the accident, but they woke us to take us immediately to Yeovil hospital. When we saw Marcus he was unconscious.

"It has been a terrible time for the whole family but we are very appreciative of the entire staff at Yeovil hospital who have worked tirelessly with Marcus and have been absolutely brilliant.

"The well wishes from Marcus's friends and friends of the family have been extremely supportive and we can't thank them enough.

"We are waiting to hear of Marcus's progress."

Police believe a stream of water that was flowing across the road where the collision happened was freezing.

Mr Cliffe added: "It's one of those unfortunate things with the extreme weather we have had.

"When you get running water across a main A road it's bound to cause issues and accidents."

Police called the fire service to help them search the scene in case there was anyone else who may have been involved and was injured nearby.

Firemen from Shepton Mallet used a thermal imaging camera to thoroughly search both sides of the A371 but did not find anyone else.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the accident, or anyone who may have suffered any loss of control on ice on the A371 near the Bath and West Showground on Friday night, to contact them on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.