‘I wonder how this will turn out’: Adrian Johnson’s thoughts as his car flipped over

Adrian Johnson wants to thank the passers-by who helped him when his car flipped over on Saturday morning

Piano teacher Adrian Johnson had just given a lesson in Dagnall and was on his way to Berkhamsted to give another lesson when he lost control of his car.

The 52-year-old said: “Something in the car just gave way and I did not have control anymore. The car ended up spinning, hitting the verge, turning over and landing on its side.”

The accident happened at about 10.15am on the Nettleden Road between Little Gaddesden and Potten End, near its junction with another street that has exactly the same name.

Adrian Johnson wants to thank the passers-by who helped him when his car flipped over on Saturday morning PNL-140922-175044001

Mr Johnson said: “At the time I was quite calm, because as soon as I lost control there was nothing I could do.

“I thought: ‘I wonder how this will turn out and just had to wait for it to stop and eventually it hit something.’

“I could walk away from it, which was a good thing, and I was not terrified at all.”

Luckily Mr Johnson had only been driving at 30mph to 40mph on the national speed limit road, and he was wearing a seatbelt.

Adrian Johnson wants to thank the passers-by who helped him when his car flipped over on Saturday morning PNL-140922-175055001

He said: “Anything faster and the damage would have been worse. It felt a bit of a surprise when the vehicle flipped onto its side.

“I thought it would just come out of a spin and then stop – because of the seatbelt I felt quite safe.”

But Mr Johnson had found himself trapped in his vehicle, as the driver’s door was up against the floor.

His arm had landed on the broken glass of his shattered side window, resulting in multiple skin abrasions.

Adrian Johnson wants to thank the passers-by who helped him when his car flipped over on Saturday morning PNL-140922-175117001

He said: “I phoned 999 straight away on my mobile and while I was talking to them a chap turned up and said: ‘Are you OK?’”

Before long two men and two women who were passing by had stopped, got the boot of his car open and helped him out of the vehicle.

They comforted him as he sat down on the verge at the side of the road, and helped direct traffic around his car until the emergency services arrived.

Mr Johnson, who lives in a boat in Winkwell Dock, said: “I would like to thank the kind people who rescued me and waited with me for the emergency services.

“The generosity of strangers was a great comfort at a time of stress, and I am extremely grateful for their help and kindness.”