Payout for mother hurt at raceway

A mother-of-four who was seriously injured when a lorry wheel bounced over a fence and into the crowd at a raceway in Staffordshire has received a six-figure sum in damages.

Jackie Edwards, from Chadsmoor in Cannock, was left in intensive care after the accident at Hednesford Hills Raceway and has spent the last two years recovering from injuries which included a broken pelvis.

The accident happened at an Easter stock car event in 2006 when a car careered into a lorry tyre put out to absorb such an impact. But the inflated tyre bounced into the spectators' area.

United Kingdom Stock Cars, which insures raceway operator Incarace, admitted liability and has agreed to pay Mrs Edwards an undisclosed six-figure sum in an out-of-court settlement.

Mrs Edwards, aged 47, had been an avid fan of the raceway for more than 20 years and rarely missed a race. She has not returned since the accident but said she now finally felt ready to.

She was there with husband Dave and 26-year-old son Christopher when the accident happened.

She suffered a broken pelvis and neck fracture and still suffers headaches. She cannot stand or sit for long periods without pain.

Mrs Edwards, of Clarion Way, said: "I do feel lucky to be alive. Although, at the time it was described as a freak accident, I have since discovered it was avoidable if only the correct safety precautions had been taken."

Law firm Irwin Mitchell, which represented Mrs Edwards said the tyre had been like a bouncing bomb and it was extremely lucky there weren't more injuries.