DAZED Lynne Thirkill believes she escaped death by inches this week after she was knocked down by a car while walking her dog.

Only a street sign stopped the car in its tracks as it swerved across Oxford Road in Guiseley and mounted the pavement, shunting her to the floor.

Just a day after her ordeal, the Guiseley housewife told how she was sure she would have been dead if the post had not taken the brunt of the smash.

"I was walking along and the next minute I was down. If it hadn't been for the sign, it would have got me completely, I would have been killed," she said.

Speaking from the home in Shaw Close she shares with her 13-year-daughter, she said: "I still don't really know what happened. I had my back to the car so I didn't see what was going on. It has petrified me, I'm not going to go on that side of the road again."

The accident happened at 5.15pm on Tuesday night as Mrs Thirkill walked her dog along the street towards Yeadon.

A C-registered Austin Montego travelling in the same direction swerved on to the pavement, hitting the sign and knocking her down. The driver was not seriously injured but was said to be badly shaken and was treated by paramedics.

But even as she lay injured, Mrs Thirkill says her first reaction was to make sure her treasured Yorkie dog Sam was alright.

"I said 'where's my dog?' and I told the paramedic I couldn't leave him," she said. "All I wanted was to get home to him."

Sam was taken in by gym owner Karen Fawcett who was at the scene minutes after the collision. Karen, who runs nearby Karisma Health Studio, said: "If it wasn't for the sign post, I imagine she wouldn't be around today."

She said the road, which runs on to Queensway, was a notorious blackspot. "It is dangerous, a really bad corner and quite often my staff have to go out and help older ladies cross the road."

Florist Karen Lamb, of Flowers By Karen, on Oxford Road, said she thought the accident was much worse. "I was in the shop when I heard this almighty noise.

"When I got there the lady kept saying 'I didn't see him' and although she was very shaken, she was very concerned about her dog.

"The road is dangerous and it's a nasty junction. There's also a lot of parked cars which can cause problems along the side of the road."

Mrs Thirkill was reunited with six-year-old Sam after her release from Leeds General Infirmary on Tuesday night. She said the whole experience was made worse because there was no-one at home to collect her.

"My daughter and husband are on holiday in Spain at the moment, so I had to get a taxi home and I was very shaken up. I'll be okay but I just feel dazed. It's been awful and I'm trying to find out if I can get any compensation for this," she said.

l Traffic calming measures are in the pipeline for Oxford Road and Queensway, including two zebra crossings.

City councillor Mike Dunn (Lab, Aireborough) said work was due to be carried out this summer. "They are being introduced in reponse to widespread concerns about safety and it is a stretch we are aware of as having problems. Hopefully these will help to alleviate them," he said.

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