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Man taken to hospital after car crashes into the Pollen 8 Flower Stall in Tunbridge Wells Railway Station

17:27, 22 March 2023

updated: 17:27, 22 March 2023

A florist has described the "terrifying" moment a motorist crashed into her shop and hit into a customer just days before Mother's Day.

The vehicle crashed through flower stall Pollen 8 in Vale Road, Tunbridge Wells, on Friday hitting a shopper and narrowly missing staff.

The car crashed into the stall on Friday night. Picture: Jane Saunders
The car crashed into the stall on Friday night. Picture: Jane Saunders

Owner of the florist, Jane Saunders, said: "It is a stall so it is all open at the front and he drove his whole car as far as it could go before it stopped.

"When he pulled up, I was just walking over to serve my customer and I heard the car scrapping. As I looked up, I just saw the car driving into my stall.

"I jumped out the way but he hit my customer. I went over to help and then it was like the car lurched forward again.

"I was just screaming. It was terrifying. It was really awful."

The incident happened at Tunbridge Wells railway station car park at around 6pm and officers from the British Transport Police were called.

It caused damage to the shop and stock was lost. Picture: Jane Saunders
It caused damage to the shop and stock was lost. Picture: Jane Saunders

The pedestrian, a 60-year-old man, was taken to a local hospital after suffering injuries to his legs and the driver, a 76-year-old man, was treated at the scene for shock.

Jane added: "I hope my customer is OK. It could have been a hell of a lot worse.

"I have hurt my knee and my shoulder, but I do not really know how that happened.

"I think it could have been as I jumped down to help him or when I jumped back when the car came in.

"It is not serious, but I just feel a bit battered. I have not really slept because I keep closing my eyes and seeing it all play in my head again.

Jane said it was "terrifying". Picture: Jane Saunders
Jane said it was "terrifying". Picture: Jane Saunders

"The noise was just horrendous. I cannot even talk much about it.

"I keep thinking how much worse it could have been if somebody had been walking with children or mums with pushchairs.

"How no one was killed I really do not know. It was just really scary."

Part of the wall in her shop has been damaged and cracked from the impact of the crash and stock has been lost or damaged.

The wall was hit and has cracked. Picture: Jane Saunders
The wall was hit and has cracked. Picture: Jane Saunders

"It was right before Mother’s Day and it is the busiest weekend of the year for us," Jane added. "But we got through it. It was tough but we managed it.

"A lot of stuff was ruined and damaged so it was really difficult to try and replace it in time.

"But at the end of the day, flowers and plants can be replaced. I am just glad that everyone was OK."

A year ago, a similar incident happened 10 feet away from Jane's stall and she is now looking to speak with the council about putting up barriers to prevent any future accidents.

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