A hit-and-run victim has recalled her horror as she watched a man drive away from the scene after crashing into the back of her vehicle – leaving the 24-year-old trapped in her car.

Police launched an appeal on Tuesday to hunt down the driver of a black Ford Focus Sport who fled the scene of a collision in Green Lane, Letchworth, earlier this month.

The incident took place at about 1pm on Friday, April 8, and left Jess Adrien – who works at the PHS waste management depot in Flint Road – suffering from whiplash and a knee injury.

“I was driving down Green Lane towards Sainsbury’s on my lunch break,” said Jess. “I stopped as the car in front had come to a halt before the roundabout.

“I checked my mirrors and the only vehicle behind me was a small motorbike with learner plates on.

“The next thing I knew I felt an almighty smash in the back of my car and before I knew it my car had gone into the black Mercedes in front of me.

“I looked in my rear mirror and saw a black Ford Focus Sport with its air bags deployed.

“I watched as he did a three-point turn and sped away from the scene of the accident – I couldn’t do anything to stop it as I was stuck in my car.

“The next part was a bit of a blur because I was having a panic attack and I was in quite bad pain. I was stuck in the car for just short of two hours.

“My foot was stuck under my clutch pedal, once they had managed to release my foot they then cut out my back seats and carried me out of the car through the boot on a back board with a brace around my head and neck.”

The ordeal – which wrote off Jess’ car – has caused her family ‘endless stress’ and has severely affected her confidence on the road, but she was at pains to laud the emergency services for their help on the day.

“The firefighters and ambulance staff were absolutely fantastic in helping me calm down, getting my breathing under control and being unbelievably supportive by my side the whole time,” she said.

“I would like to say a massive thank you to every single one of them who helped me that day.

“But I would also like to appeal to anyone who has any information regarding the driver of that vehicle.

“I was very fortunate not to have been too severely hurt, but I am still in pain from the accident now and it could have been a lot worse.”

Officers would like to speak to the driver of the car – registration number EF11 LLG – which was recovered by police in nearby Pascal Way the day after the collision.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Keith Harding via the police non-emergency number 101, quoting crime reference G2/16/688.

You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.