Thurrock woman injured in crash that closed QEII bridge for 12 hours recalls shocking moments when lorry crashed into her car

By Nub News Reporter 5th Jul 2025

The crash scene. Picture by eyewitness Steve Lowe.
The crash scene. Picture by eyewitness Steve Lowe.

A THURROCK woman has spoken about Thursday's horror crash on the QEII Dartford crossing bridge when she thought her vehicle would be pushed off and into the Thames die after a lorry collided with her car.

Miraculously, she walked away from the impact with the jackknifed lorry without major injury.

The result of the crash was the bridge closure for repairs and resurfacing and gridlock on the region's road's until the early hours of yesterday (Friday, 4 July) morning.

Nura Newman told the BBC: "The lorry spun me, it jackknifed and I thought I was going to go over the barrier.

"I thought I was going to die; I just saw the end of my road."

Nura Newman

Miss Newman said it was a "miracle" that she walked away from the incident.

The 28-year-old had been driving from her home in Thurrock to Crawley in West Sussex just after 11am

Eyewitnesses said the lorry collided with her car as its driver changed lanes.

"Before I knew it, the airbags deployed and I couldn't see anything," said Miss Newman.

"I was petrified, my brain couldn't keep up with what was going on."

Eyewitness Steve Lowe, 67, said: "The lorry hit the backside of the car, spinning it around the front of its cab, while the lorry spun into the barrier."

"I was expecting the wagon to come round and hit me; it shook me up and the woman was very shaken up too."

The bridge reopened at on Friday after work to repair its barriers and road surface. Widespread queues had built up east of London, with eight-mile (12.8km) congestion on the M25 clockwise and gridlock across West Thurrock.

Gridlock at Lakeside.

Miss Newman, who was treated at Basildon Hospital for bruising, said it was "surreal" to see the impact of the collision.

"I was very shaken up and still am," she explained. "It's petrifying and I feel for everyone who was held up in all of that.

"It's a major inconvenience for everyone involved, but I appreciate everyone's patience."

The sales manager thanked emergency crews and Mr Lowe, who stopped to help her." 

     

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