Ingleton driver still critical after crash (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Ingleton driver still critical after crash

9:40am Thursday 8th October 2009 in

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FRIENDS of an Ingleton man seriously injured in a crash on the A65 are praying for his recovery.

Janusz Tomczak remained in a critical condition in Leeds General Infirmary yesterday after he was involved in a collision which closed the A65, at Ingleton, for six hours on Friday.

The 48 year-old, who hails from Poland but has lived in the close-knit community for two years, was on his way home from work as a driver for Fairhursts Stone, in Kirkby Lonsdale, when his car collided with a car travelling in the opposite direction near the Country Harvest restaur-ant.

The two 70-year-old men in that car, a Vauxhall Astra, escaped with minor injuries, Mr Tomczak suffered serious head and chest injuries. He was airlifted to hospital after being cut from the wreckage of his Peugeot 205 by fire crews, including a retained firefighter whom he had been working with that day.

Two South Lakeland nurses, Fiona Addison and Sandra Schofield, who happened on the scene as they travelled home to Kendal from Settle, went to Mr Tomczak’s aid, along with a passing off-duty paramedic.

They described how they worked to clear his airway while speaking to him constantly.

Mrs Schofield, of Sampool, near Levens, said: “As a nurse it can be difficult because you always want to do more (for the person), but you just do what you can.

"We thought that maybe he could still hear us so we just talked to him.”

The driver of the other car involved has since praised the pair’s efforts.

David Jones, of Grange-over-Sands, had enjoyed a day out in Hawes with a friend and was making his way home when the crash happened at 4pm.

Although suffering from shock, he believes he escaped injury because of his seatbelt and airbag.

He was taken to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, while his passenger was flown to Harrogate District Hospital, before both were discharged.

“It’s a bit hazy, but I remember one hell of a bang on impact and there was a huge jolt.

"Everyone at the scene was amazing, just brilliant,” he said.

Colleagues of Mr Tomczak said they were praying for his recovery.

“He is a very jovial chap and a very consc-ientious worker,” said Susan Fairhurst, a partner in Fairhursts Stone.

“He’s a popular member of staff and we’re all just hoping he will be OK.

"His sister is coming over from Poland on Saturday.”

Witnesses to the collision are asked to contact Skipton Road Policing Unit on 0845-6060247.