Red Lion pub, Helston driver tells of shock at accident

Robyn Gray, 22, told the Packet from her hospital bed how an innocent drive to Falmouth in her new car led to her vehicle ploughing into the side of The Red Lion pub in Helston as revellers partied inside.

The accident happened at around 10pm on New Year's Eve as she approached her home which just around the corner from the pub in Church Street. As she left a set of traffic lights she lost control of her two litre Mondeo Estate which she had bought only two days before.

Robyn in her hospital bed

"I certainly ended 2021 with a bang didn't I?," she said. "I was heading towards the lights along the main street and as they turned green I left and what's happened is I have taken the bend too sharp so the back end skidded out. I might have hit the kerb which might have caused it to escalate into that crash because we were looking at the pictures thinking how did that happen?

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"I wasn't speeding as I have an issue with the car, an ETR valve so I wouldn't have been able to build up that speed. The breathalyser was completely negative, so I didn't have any alcohol in my system whatsoever but because I was sick after the accident people thought it could have been alcohol, but it was just shock.

"Luckily I didn't hit anyone. I made sure of that. I don't know what I would have done if I did."

The car was a write off

She says she doesn't remember sounding her horn which some witnesses describe and doesn't remember much of the actual accident at all. She says she remembers leading up to the impact and heading towards the wall and all the air bags deploying and getting hit in the chest.

"I remember lying there coughing trying to gasp for air and I just remember the car covered in smoke," she said. "I looked towards the pub to see if anyone had been injured or I had hit anyone just in case, but they all seemed to be alright they were all by the door and there was a big crowd.

The Red Lion pub was damaged in the incident

"I looked out of my driver's side and there two girls forcing the door open. One of the ladies was Hannah. She was lovely. I think she said she was a trauma nurse so she was with me whole time holding my hand and hair telling me everything was going to be OK."

Robyn knew she was her foot was injured immediately but managed to move it out of the car eventually and then the police and ambulance arrived. She says she was breathalysed but was given the all clear.

Robyn will have to wear a cast

Her ankle was dislocated and she broke three bones in her foot on impact. She has been operated on and is now waiting to get the all clear to go home.

"I'm just still in shock at the moment," she said. "I still can't believe what has happened."