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Woman, 32, from Hornchurch in Essex dies as car somersaults off Megger multi-storey car park in Dover

15:15, 27 June 2014

Witnesses are being sought after a 32-year-old woman died when her car plunged from the top of a Dover multi-storey car park in a dramatic crash.

Witnesses looked on in horror as the silver Toyota Corolla tumbled from the Megger building after hitting the nearby Western Heights roundabout on the A20 yesterday.

The driver was believed to have fallen out of the car onto the roof before the vehicle plunged to another level about 10ft below in horrific scenes at about 9.20am.

The wreckage of the car that somersaulted from the A20 roundabout onto the Megger multi-storey car park
The wreckage of the car that somersaulted from the A20 roundabout onto the Megger multi-storey car park

Police today said it has been established the Toyota travelled over the Dartford Crossing at 8.15am, then a short distance on the M25 where it joined the M20 and drove down through Kent to the A20.

A spokesman said the driver, from Hornchurch in Essex, appears to have lost control at the Aycliffe roundabout and struck an adjacent private car park.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries to her thorax, abdomen, leg and head. There was no one else in her car.

The crumpled wreckage of a car that plunged from a Dover car park roof
The crumpled wreckage of a car that plunged from a Dover car park roof

Witnesses earlier described watching the horrific crash unfold.

"It was horrendous," said Brian Rees, from P&O.

"From the view from my office, I assumed the car had somehow managed to get up enough speed to launch off the top deck of the car park we can see, somersaulting high in the air, debris flying off.

"It was so extraordinary, and happened so quickly, that for a moment I didn't believe my own eyes..." - Brian Rees, P&O

"But I'm getting the impression that it may have launched right over the car park from the roundabout for Aycliffe.

"It was so extraordinary, and happened so quickly, that for a moment I didn't believe my own eyes.

"My immediate reaction was that it would be a miracle to survive such an accident and I'm hearing that it has ended in tragedy."

The A20 coast-bound carriageway remain closed from the A260 Courtwood roundabout for several hours. The London-bound section re-opened at about 11am.

All emergency services were sent to the scene of the dramatic crash, which left the car badly crumpled. Several vehicles are believed to have been damaged when it landed.

An air ambulance left the scene at about 10.30am.

A red car is damaged in the crash, off the A20 in Dover at the Megger car park
A red car is damaged in the crash, off the A20 in Dover at the Megger car park
A blue car damaged after the A20 crash at the Megger car park in Dover
A blue car damaged after the A20 crash at the Megger car park in Dover

Among the witnesses were several P&O employees, who were standing about 400m away.

Earlier, P&O spokesman Chris Laming said: "Two or three employees witnessed the final sections as the car flew through the air.

"I'm hearing that the driver came out as it was towering through the air.

"I am about 300 metres away from the other side of the car park. An air ambulance has landed."

The Megger multi-storey car park after the crash
The Megger multi-storey car park after the crash
Some of the cars wrecked in the crash at Megger
Some of the cars wrecked in the crash at Megger
The woman's car hit the Western Heights roundabout before careering onto the Megger car park. Picture: Google Street View
The woman's car hit the Western Heights roundabout before careering onto the Megger car park. Picture: Google Street View
An air ambulance at the scene of the crash. Picture: Chris Laming
An air ambulance at the scene of the crash. Picture: Chris Laming

Anyone who saw the crash or noticed the silver Toyota on the M25, M20 or A20 is asked to phone the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 01622 798538.

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