TWENTY years ago, survivors of a "terrifying" minibus crash, which left several people from Chard with serious injuries, say their lives were saved by their seatbelts.
Two Chard-based workers from the building firm K.D.J. Slade & Sons were trapped for two hours after their mini-bus was involved in a head-on collision with a silver Chrysler on the A30 between Crewkerne and Yeovil at 4.30pm on Thursday, March 10 2005.
According to a spokesperson at the time, seven of their workmates "clambered to safety" after the impact sent the minibus skidding into a hedge and the car's engine burst into flames and was thrown 40 feet into a wall.
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Once clear of the wreckage some workers sought materials from a nearby building site to stop the stricken vehicle toppling into a hedge and further injuring those trapped inside.
Passenger Phil Higgs, of Tatworth, suffered a broken leg and cheekbone, and was airlifted to Dorchester Hospital, driver Dave Bagg, of Chard, was taken to Yeovil District Hospital with multiple leg fractures and other wounds, and the Chrysler driver was also cut free with injuries not thought to be life-threatening.
Fellow passenger Jon Scott, 23, who lived near Chard at the time, was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, with a broken sternum and broken rib.
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