Andrew McQueen, 52, and his 10-year-old daughter Poppy are counting their blessings after a frightening encounter with a massive pothole on the A346 through Savernake Forest, Wiltshire. Returning from a joyful day at Peppa Pig World, Andrew’s Aston Martin DB9 struck a colossal pothole that tore off the front wheel, leaving the car severely damaged and likely a write-off.
“This wasn’t just any pothole,” Andrew explained. “It was more like a series of craters stretching for hundreds of yards across the road. No matter which way you tried to steer, you couldn’t avoid them.”
Traveling at around 40 mph, Andrew barely had time to react. “I tried to brake and swerve, but it was impossible. The car hit the pothole with a deafening bang, and I lost control, zig-zagging down the road without brakes.”
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Thankfully, the vehicle behind managed to stop in time, preventing a catastrophic collision with oncoming traffic or nearby trees. Though shaken and nursing a shoulder injury, Andrew was grateful that neither he nor Poppy suffered serious harm.
The aftermath, however, was emotional. Poppy, distressed by the accident and feeling responsible, tearfully blamed herself for the damage to her dad’s cherished Aston Martin. “It’s my dream car, something I’ve wanted since I was a child,” Andrew said. “But all I could think about was how lucky we were to be safe.”
In response, Wiltshire Council has announced plans for emergency repairs on the damaged stretch of road. Martin Smith, cabinet member for highways, expressed regret that the incident had not been reported sooner but confirmed urgent work would address the potholes.
Andrew has contacted his local MP and plans to increase awareness about the road conditions, urging authorities to invest more in maintaining the highways. “We all pay road taxes, so why isn’t the road safer? This could have been a tragedy,” he stressed.
Having experienced firsthand the dangers posed by neglected roads, Andrew hopes his story prompts action to prevent others from facing similar risks.