Witness to accident - what can I do?
Discussion
Last night around 22:00 after driving back to London from Liverpool, on a busy M25 (anti-clockwise) I had the misfortune of a car tailgating me around Clacket Lane sevice station. I was in the oustide lane of M25 overtaking the middle lane traffic, with cars in front of me for as far as I can see.
This person was changing lanes, and basically driving like a dick trying to make progress. Upon reaching the split in the road (straight on for M26, or left for M25). I made my way across to the left hand lanes to continue on M25. At this point tailgater went straight past me, and I thought I would continue on my way without having to deal with him.
I was in the oustide lane of the two lanes (of the sliproad) of the M25, that merge with the traffic that joins from the A21. As I checked my mirrors to move across to allow the other traffic from inside of sliproad out, I have tailgater behind me again (I can tell from distinctive spotlights on car), so as I move across to join Motorway, I stick in middle (could be 3rd of 4 lanes - not sure) lane and carry on my way. I have joined motorway at somewhere between 60 and 70 mph.
Tailgater decides to "slingshot" past me in the outside lane and (I think) was giving me the stare as to why was I holding him up. I say think, because I was more aware of the Golf in the outside lane doing approx 70 in outside lane, and the fact he was going to hit him. I shouted at girlfriend "hold on! he is gonna hit him" and emergency stopped.
Sure enough tailgater hits Golf at approx 80 to 90 mph straight into back of car. Subsequently two bumpers in road, shed loads of glass, and other bits of car showered over, under and around my car. However I managed to not hit anything, or have any damage other than "stone chippings" to front of car.
This is where it gets strange!
I told girlfriend to call police on her mobile, and I slow down with hazards on waiting to pull over as witness to accient. Tailgater continues on his way at speed, and weirdly Golf doesn't stop either (although hard shoulder was coned off at this piece of road). If I had been in my GTV that I have just sold, I would have chased tailgater and got number plate - unfortunately girlfriends 147 is SLOOOOOOW!
Eventually approx 1 mile away, whilst girlfried is still on phone to police - Golf eventually pulls over. I pulled over behind him. I was ready to say that although I did not have numberplate of tailgater, I was pretty sure it was a BMW 3 series, and if they were to go to police I would happily be a witness to get this dick off the road. As I approached car - 4 guys got out, and it was immediately obvious that they were not British. I asked if they spoke English - and two of them immediately responded forcefully "NO POLICE". So I got back in car, and drove off! Thought I am not getting involved.
Girlfriend is still on phone to police and gives number plate of damaged Golf to them, explains where accident is and that there is lots of car left in outside lane of M25.
Now - after Golf drivers reaction - I couldn't give a shite about him, obviously illegal (either immigrant, or driver) by his reaction. However the other guy on the road was a complete dick and should not be on the road. It could have been someone completely innocent that he hit, or worse than just caused an accident.
Will the police be interested in this? If so who should I contact (obviously not 999!)? I know there are lots of cameras around there (I presume cctv), if I was to report this would anyone bother to check to pursue further?
I just want to register with someone and let them know that if this is spotted, that I was the driver of the red Alfa and would be happy to provide a statement.
This person was changing lanes, and basically driving like a dick trying to make progress. Upon reaching the split in the road (straight on for M26, or left for M25). I made my way across to the left hand lanes to continue on M25. At this point tailgater went straight past me, and I thought I would continue on my way without having to deal with him.
I was in the oustide lane of the two lanes (of the sliproad) of the M25, that merge with the traffic that joins from the A21. As I checked my mirrors to move across to allow the other traffic from inside of sliproad out, I have tailgater behind me again (I can tell from distinctive spotlights on car), so as I move across to join Motorway, I stick in middle (could be 3rd of 4 lanes - not sure) lane and carry on my way. I have joined motorway at somewhere between 60 and 70 mph.
Tailgater decides to "slingshot" past me in the outside lane and (I think) was giving me the stare as to why was I holding him up. I say think, because I was more aware of the Golf in the outside lane doing approx 70 in outside lane, and the fact he was going to hit him. I shouted at girlfriend "hold on! he is gonna hit him" and emergency stopped.
Sure enough tailgater hits Golf at approx 80 to 90 mph straight into back of car. Subsequently two bumpers in road, shed loads of glass, and other bits of car showered over, under and around my car. However I managed to not hit anything, or have any damage other than "stone chippings" to front of car.
This is where it gets strange!
I told girlfriend to call police on her mobile, and I slow down with hazards on waiting to pull over as witness to accient. Tailgater continues on his way at speed, and weirdly Golf doesn't stop either (although hard shoulder was coned off at this piece of road). If I had been in my GTV that I have just sold, I would have chased tailgater and got number plate - unfortunately girlfriends 147 is SLOOOOOOW!
Eventually approx 1 mile away, whilst girlfried is still on phone to police - Golf eventually pulls over. I pulled over behind him. I was ready to say that although I did not have numberplate of tailgater, I was pretty sure it was a BMW 3 series, and if they were to go to police I would happily be a witness to get this dick off the road. As I approached car - 4 guys got out, and it was immediately obvious that they were not British. I asked if they spoke English - and two of them immediately responded forcefully "NO POLICE". So I got back in car, and drove off! Thought I am not getting involved.
Girlfriend is still on phone to police and gives number plate of damaged Golf to them, explains where accident is and that there is lots of car left in outside lane of M25.
Now - after Golf drivers reaction - I couldn't give a shite about him, obviously illegal (either immigrant, or driver) by his reaction. However the other guy on the road was a complete dick and should not be on the road. It could have been someone completely innocent that he hit, or worse than just caused an accident.
Will the police be interested in this? If so who should I contact (obviously not 999!)? I know there are lots of cameras around there (I presume cctv), if I was to report this would anyone bother to check to pursue further?
I just want to register with someone and let them know that if this is spotted, that I was the driver of the red Alfa and would be happy to provide a statement.
We live in a crazy world.
The 4 guys in the Golf were obviously up to some kind of crazyness, and didnt want police,
and the tailgater is some more crazyness, an accient waiting to happen - and when it does he obiously didnt want the police either.
Whilst where I can do some good I like to. However, unless you could provide the police with enough evidence to do something about I am not sure what effect you could have in this situation.
I would just put it down to expanding your experience.
The 4 guys in the Golf were obviously up to some kind of crazyness, and didnt want police,
and the tailgater is some more crazyness, an accient waiting to happen - and when it does he obiously didnt want the police either.
Whilst where I can do some good I like to. However, unless you could provide the police with enough evidence to do something about I am not sure what effect you could have in this situation.
I would just put it down to expanding your experience.
I would say you've done your bit. You've contacted the Police,reported the accident and given what infomation you had at the time.
There are any number of reasons why neither stopped, but at least the Police have the number of the Golf, and hopefully the BMW driver will have left his at the scene, and they can decide if they want to chase it up.
There are any number of reasons why neither stopped, but at least the Police have the number of the Golf, and hopefully the BMW driver will have left his at the scene, and they can decide if they want to chase it up.
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