A DRIVING instructor who had to be airlifted to hospital following a collision on the A30 near Launceston last Friday evening has called for motorists to be more mindful on the roads.

Colin Mullis, who is based in Launceston, was on a Pass Plus course with a student when the incident took place — the student had only passed their driving test the day before.

Mr Mullis said as they were driving along the dual carriageway, they saw a tractor and a lorry on the slip road. He said the student pulled out into lane two as he should have done, but the lorry ‘decided to go from the slip road straight into lane two’.

Mr Mullis said: “They were probably only doing 20mph.”

Both Mr Mullis and the student reacted, and were able to emergency stop in the dual controlled car, but were then ‘heavily’ hit from behind by a car.

Mr Mullis added: “The car behind shunted us forwards. That car was shunted by another lorry. It hit us again and put us into the barrier.

“It was bad. There was smoke coming into the car. I got dragged out of the car as they were worried it was going to catch fire.”

Luckily, the student had managed to get out of the car, and others involved in the incident were said to have only received minor injuries. Mr Mullis lost sensation in his back and leg, and had to be air lifted by Cornwall Air Ambulance to Derriford Hospital. The dual carriageway had to be completely closed, and was fully cleared by 9.30pm.

Mr Mullis has bad bruising around his hip and pelvis, and on his leg and femur, and has spinal shock. He also had to return to hospital over the weekend and on Monday, and has been told to expect a long recovery.

He added: “We were only 10 minutes from being finished. When the first impact happened, before the car hit a second time, it felt like we were floating. When it did hit, my God it hurt. I’ve never felt pain like it.

“Recovery could take a couple of weeks, a few months, a year — it depends on how your body recovers.

“I said to the policeman it’s kind of ironic. Look at all the people here, I’m the most advanced driver and I came out with all the injuries!”

He expressed his thanks to all the emergency services, which also included Launceston Fire Brigade. Mr Mullis said it was ‘fortunate’ that in the traffic behind the incident, there was a doctor and a police woman who helped at the scene.

He said if the vehicle in his position had been one without dual controls ‘they would have been in the back of the lorry’, and criticised the vehicles behind for being too close in the wet weather.

“Being an advanced driver you are looking at everything and are aware of what’s going on,” he said.

“I went to my car [Tuesday morning] to pick up personal belongings. You can’t recognise it.

“For everyone to get out with just a few minor injuries, it’s very, very lucky.

Mr Mullis said he and the student had been to Exeter earlier that day as part of the Pass Plus course: “We saw an accident on the motorway. I said to [the student] you are doing the right thing, keeping your distance in front.”

Mr Mullis’ car is a write-off and he said the incident has caused him ‘a massive financial burden’.

He is urging motorists to take care on the roads. Adding that he has previously raised money for the air ambulance, he said: “You don’t think, ‘will I ever need them?’ People don’t think ‘that could be me next week’.”