Driver, 46, who ‘nearly died’ when MATTRESS flew off truck forcing him to swerve into crash barrier at 70 mph is ordered to pay £10k to repair it
Steve Hookway feared he could have lost his life in smash on A38 near Plymouth, Devon
A DRIVER who was nearly killed by a mattress lying in the middle of the road was told he has to pay £10,000 to repair the barrier he smashed into as he tried to avoid it.
Steven Hookway, 46, was travelling at over 65mph when he was forced to swerve violently around the object that had fallen off the back of a lorry.
The manoeuvre meant he lost control of his car and smashed into a central reservation on the crowded A38 near Plymouth, Devon.
He escaped from the smash uninjured - but police have told him he now faces a bill for up to £10,000 to repair the crash barrier.
Steven, from Saltash, Devon said: "When you're in the outside lane travelling at 65 miles per hour and you see an obstacle in the road in the dark, do you avoid the brick wall or go into it.
"I decided to avoid it, hit the kerb on the inside lane and spun across the road again.”
He added: "When it was happening I was just waiting for the next big bang or for the car to flip.
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"I know I'm very fortunate - I even ended up in the lay-by facing back the right way.
"I don't know how I'm not seriously injured or even dead.
"I didn't think I'd see my family again."
Another driver, a woman in a Volkswagen Bora, struck the mattress, which then became lodged under her car, causing her to brake and stop suddenly.
She escaped badly shocked, while accounts manager Steven’s car was written off with extensive damage to the passenger side and the bonnet.
Police have also warned him that he will be liable for the damage caused to the central reservation - at a cost of between £5,000 and £10,000.
A witness told police they recalled seeing a mattress coming off a truck on the A38 dual carriageway around the time of the crash.
Steven argues that if the mattress had not been there to begin with, then he would not have needed to swerve and the accident would never have happened.
I don't know how I'm not seriously injured or even dead. I didn't think I'd see my family again
Driver Steven Hookway
He is now pleading for the driver of the truck carrying the mattress or any witnesses to the drama to come forward 'out of the goodness of their hearts'.
The smash left two lanes of the A38 closed to traffic for around an hour and caused huge tailbacks as far as Marsh Mills on Tuesday night.
Traffic also queued from the Manadon roundabout down through North Hill and caused a number of buses to run up to an hour late.
Anyone who witnessed the truck or the collision is asked to contact police on 101 quoting the date of the accident, 29/11/2016.
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