Road rage victim 'lucky to be alive'

Derek Thomas is nursing a broken jaw after he confronted the driver of a white Astra van last Friday afternoon.

Doctors have told the 57-year-old, who has a titanium plate in his head to assist with his hearing aid, that the attacker's blow could have been lethal.

Mr Thomas, from Witton-le-Wear, County Durham, said last night: "The doctor has told me that if he had hit me on the head a few inches higher, I would have been in intensive care and it would have been unlikely that I would have pulled through."

He said he was the first in the queue at roadwork traffic lights, in Hargill Road, Howden-le-Wear, when the van swerved in front of him and sped away.

Mr Thomas said: "I was already pulling away when he went past and I hit one of the traffic cones. I was a bit annoyed so I followed him. I wanted to give him a piece of my mind."

Mr Thomas, who was driving a silver Ford Focus car, flagged down the van driver in a lay-by on the A68, on the outskirts of Toft Hill.

He said the van driver grabbed him by the throat and threw him to the ground.

"The next thing I remember is sitting in my car, and he was handing me my glasses saying you might need these," he said.

Mr Thomas said he will follow police advice from now on.

He said: "I will never do that again. I would advise anyone else in the same position to always carry a mobile phone, lock all their doors and call the police."

The van driver is described as 30, 5ft 10in, slim, clean shaven with dark brown or black hair, which was brushed forward. He was wearing tinted glasses.

Last night, Crook police condemned the "violent and completely unwarranted attack".

They are appealing for anyone who may have seen the incident at the roadworks or the vehicles parked in the lay-by to come forward.

They would especially like to talk to four women who stopped to see if Mr Thomas was all right.

Witnesses should contact (01388) 762011 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.