A YOUNG woman is lucky to be alive after her car overturned following a collision in Muscliff.

Nina Arnone, 22, was upside down and trapped in her Peugeot 206 until a passer-by forced the passenger side window open and pulled her free.

Amazingly, she escaped with just bruises and a small cut to the inside of her mouth. The other driver – an older woman in a Vauxhall Corsa – was treated at the scene but is not thought to have sustained serious injuries.

The incident happened at around 7pm on Thursday at the site of a new mini-roundabout, which had only just been painted on Muscliffe Lane as part of traffic calming measures to support a new 20mph zone.

Nina, an office support worker, said: “I had turned right out of Cox Avenue and was on the roundabout when the accident happened.

“I swerved to try and avoid it but then I was aware there was a car coming in the other direction.

“The next thing I remember is seeing trees in front of me.

“The airbag hit me in the face and I don’t know what happened next.

“My window was only open a little bit and there was smoke in the car. I could see people’s feet around the windows but I couldn’t move or get out.

“I’m really grateful to the man who helped me out. He disappeared afterwards so I don’t know who he was but I’m so grateful because I don’t know how else I would have got out.”

Her mum Denise, who lives in Muscliff, had visited the gym with Nina but drove home separately. She was horrified to come by the collision on her way home.

“I could see people milling around and they said there had been an accident,” she said.

“I thought I could still get past to go home so I drove on but then looked across and saw her car overturned and Nina on the pavement.

“It’s a miracle she was not more badly injured, I can’t think of any other way to describe it.

“It could so easily have been a tragedy.

Councillors demand removal of mini roundabout

TWO Bournemouth councillors are demanding the immediate removal of a mini roundabout following the collision on Muscliffe Lane.

Cllrs Ron Whittaker and Anne Rey who represent the area, said they had asked for it to be removed the week before.

They said they supported the 20mph zone and the need to slow down traffic around Epiphany School but believed the mini roundabout was completely unnecessary and confusing for motorists.

“Speed cushions were unpopular so the council officers said we had to have a mini roundabout instead,” said Cllr Whittaker.

“People started complaining. They said it was an accident waiting to happen.

“We want it removed immediately before there is another, more serious, accident. Our biggest fear is that a child could be injured or killed.”

Transport cabinet member Cllr Michael Filer said a road safety audit would take place next week. “We are also conducting a camera survey to capture the traffic movement at the mini roundabout over a 24-hour period,” he said.

“Once we have the results of the safety audit and the camera survey, together with the official accident report from the police, a meeting to review the situation will be set up with ward councillors, traffic officers and myself as portfolio holder.”