A driver had his arm snapped in two places in front of his eight-year-old granddaughter in an alleged road rage incident - but police say there is nothing they can do. Phil Webster says he was turning left on a roundabout when another driver “saw red” - and broke two of his bones.
The 57-year-old had been exiting the M20 in his grey Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with his granddaughter and dog inside shortly before 5pm on Saturday, February 28.
The carriageway splits into three filter lanes as it approaches the A249 roundabout. The left is for left-turns only, while the middle and right allow cars to continue right Phil says he had been in the left lane when another motorist also turned left towards Bearsted, despite, Phil says, being in the right-hand lane.
The granddad said: “He came up beside me and nearly touched me, and I gestured to him as if to say, ‘What are you doing?’ and he just must have seen red from there. He wound his window down, and I thought he wanted to say something, so I wound my window down.
“Our cars were about a foot apart, and he was able to climb out of his window, spat at me then started punching me through mine.”
Phil says the man used his hands and weight to try to pull his window, which was halfway down, to open it further. Phil added: “I had locked the door by then, and I was trying to push him away with my right arm from the window, and that’s when he got my arm and snapped it with both hands over the window.
“I just looked at it happening and saw my hand hanging down. I was worried he was going to get away, so somehow with adrenaline I was able to drive the van to block him." His granddaughter then called the police, who arrived soon after. By this point, the “pain had kicked in”.
He said: “For at least 20 minutes, I was screaming in agony in front of my granddaughter, and I really didn't want to, but I was just in so much pain. I'm like a second dad to her – I've spent a lot of time with her. She thinks the world of me, and just to see that happen to her granddad is pretty bad.”
Police were called to the reported assault at around 4.55pm. A spokesperson for the force said: “Officers attended the scene where a motorist who had been injured during an altercation with another driver was taken to hospital for treatment to injuries.
“A 30-year-old man was arrested and taken into custody, and an investigation was conducted, including forensic examinations and a review of CCTV. On completion of all relevant inquiries, the decision was made that the case had not met the evidential threshold for a charge.
“The arrested man was released from custody the following day without further action.”
Detective Inspector Tristan Stevens said: “In this case, all potential avenues of investigation were explored and accounts taken from those involved. Whilst the decision was made to release the suspect without charge at that stage, we will thoroughly review any further information that comes to light.
“I would urge any witnesses who have not yet spoken to the police and anyone with dashcam footage of the incident to contact us.”
Phil says he was left “gutted” over the outcome of the case but is hoping that someone out there will have information that will help the police revisit it. The ambulance service also confirmed it was called to the scene after 5pm and assessed the grandad for injuries, including to his wrist, before taking him to Maidstone Hospital for further treatment.
It was there that an X-ray revealed he had broken two bones. He was released but readmitted and kept overnight on Sunday for observation over concerns of tissue damage. He has had a cast put on his arm and is expecting to have an operation to fit two plates in it later this week or at the beginning of next.
Phil, who is self-employed, said: “It's changed my life completely.” His job involves travelling all over and moving heavy cast-iron cookers such as Agas and Rayburns from place to place.
But due to his injuries, he is currently unable to work. The grandad, who is an experienced motorist, says he drives about 50,000 miles a year, always keeps “well away from any road rage” scenes.
Despite finding the incident “terrifying”, he is also worried about the impact of witnessing such an attack on his granddaughter. He said: “She's a tough cookie, she is alright at the moment, but we do worry she is bottling it all in and it's going to hit her soon.”
Speaking on how it's affected himself, Phil added: “It's amazing how psychologically it's damaged me – it’s definitely made my opinion of the outside world a little bit different now.”
