Honeymoon horror groom is making a steady recovery

By Christine Lavelle

A TEACHER who was hit by a car in Italy has been moved out of intensive care, almost a month after he was induced into a coma by doctors.

John Tams, 31, suffered serious head injuries when he was thrown 30ft in the air by an out-of-control vehicle, while on honeymoon with his new bride Nicola.

The craft and design teacher from Edinburgh also sustained facial injuries and a broken leg, pelvis and ribs, while Mrs Tams, 31, was left with four broken ribs.

The couple, who were married in Edinburgh’s Minto hotel just days before the accident, were leaving a restaurant in Naples when the car veered onto the pavement – heading straight for them.

Although Mr Tams’ injuries are severe, he has been making steady progress and during his wife’s first visit after getting out of hospital herself, he was able to tell her that he loves her.

Eight-year-old girl dragged under car outside home

By Rory Reynolds

AN eight-year-old girl was in a critical in hospital after being dragged under a car – just yards from her home.

Melissa Zeybek – who lives just across from her school in Prestonpans, East Lothian, was thought to have been crossing the busy road outside when she was hit and went under the car.

The horror accident occurred as pupils were leaving St Gabriel’s Primary near Edinburgh at around 3pm on Tuesday afternoon.

Firefighters with special equipment had to free the girl from under the vehicle before she could be treated by paramedics.

Melissa was rushed to the A&E department at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and later transferred to the Sick Kids Hospital in the south of the city for specialist care.

Family pay tribute to tragic learner driver

Suzanne Harkness

By Cara Sulieman

THIS is the tragic young learner driver who died in a head-on smash whilst out on a lesson on Wednesday evening.

Suzanne Harkness was driving along the Melrose Bypass with her instructor when she collided with an oncoming car.

The young hopeful, from Galashiels, was last night described by her family as “devoted and hardworking”.

Tragic dad killed in Spain leaves young son and girlfriend

By Rory Reynolds

A TRAGIC dad killed on holiday in Spain was laid to rest yesterday (mon) – leaving behind an 18-month-old son and long-term girlfriend.

Tributes were paid to Thomas Patterson, 21, at a service yesterday afternoon in Eastern Cemetery in Edinburgh some 10 days after he was killed while crossing a busy dual carriageway while out holidaying on the Costa Blanca.

Mourners heard him described as an “amazing dad” and “great boyfriend” by his grieving loved ones, who affectionately knew him as Tam or Top Cat.

Thomas, a roofer from Moredun in Edinburgh, had been on holiday with two cousins and two friends from work when tragedy struck on July 17.

Schoolkids protest at speeding drivers

By ALEXANDER LAWRIE

FED-UP school kids have taken to the streets to campaign against careless motorists speeding past their school.

The young road safety campaigners have been forced to act after a series of near-misses outside St Margaret’s School in Edinburgh.

The well-heeled private school is situated on one of the capital’s main arterial routes through the city and school chiefs have been protesting about speeding drivers for years claiming the road “is an accident waiting to happen”.

Mum and baby hit by runaway car

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Alexander Lawrie

A YOUNG mum and her 12-week old baby had a miracle escape – after they were hit by a runaway car.

Mum Emma Broadley and her newly-born girl Lily-Anne were crossing at a pedestrian crossing in Armadale, West Lothian, when a parked car suddenly rolled down the busy street crashing into the pair.

The startled mum and the tot were sent flying into the middle of the road before the car carried on its course hitting another pedestrian, Fiona Easton, and eventually coming to a stop embedded into a butcher’s shop front.

Horrified shoppers rushed to help the three injured pedestrians, before an ambulance was called at around 11.45 on Saturday morning.

Luckily, the three pedestrians only received minor injuries after the horror crash.

Seconds before the collision, a female driver was seen parking a blue Alfa Romeo about 60 yards from the crash scene in the town’s South Street.

A report is currently being submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

Derek Sneddon, 33, of J&K Dewar’s Butchers, said: “I was in the back shop cutting when I heard an almighty crash. I thought there had been an accident on the road outside but couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the car halfway inside the shop.

“What puzzled me was I couldn’t see the driver and there was no time for them to have got out before I got there.

“One woman was lying half-in the shop and I rushed to help her it was only then that I heard another woman screaming because her child was lying on the road.

“Luckily, the car only clipped the buggy, otherwise it could have been so much more disastrous.

“Another few seconds either way and they could all have been killed.”

“The woman whose car it was came down the street 10 minutes later as she had been in the post office and thought her car had been stolen. She was so upset when she realised what had happened.”

Staff from the nearby Craft Cuts hairdresser helped to treat the injured three before the ambulance team arrived.

Barbara McLeish, 27, said: “I was working in the shop when I heard the crash. Thinking it was just a bump in the street I was totally horrified when I saw the buggy toppled over and the baby lying in the street.

“The mum was screaming but soon calmed down when we brought her into the hairdressers. I think it was just the shock of what could have happened that sent her into hysterics.

“She only had bruising to her shoulder and hip and the baby had a few grazes on its face.

“In a way, they were all so lucky as it could have turned out so much worse.”

Ms McLeish also revealed the partner of Ms Broadley came to the shop on Monday to thank the staff for all they had done.

He told them Ms Broadley and little Lily-Anne were both shaken by the incident, but had suffered no long term injuries.

A police spokesman confirmed a report is being prepared and will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.