CHIPPENHAM dad Darren Kitson said he felt lucky to be alive after a driver ploughed into the side of his car on Sunday night.

Mr Kitson, 22, of Audley Road, was in the car with his two-year-old son Jamie Lee, and his girlfriend Diana Davey, 19, when the accident happened.

They were driving back to Chippenham from Calne after dropping off Miss Davey's sisters, who had been staying with them for the weekend.

Mr Kitson decided to buy some cigarettes at the Onestop in Market Place and was driving along Timber Street towards the roundabout in his Citroen Saxo.

"I looked left and right and didn't see any cars so I pulled out to turn right. Suddenly a car came out of nowhere and hit the driver's side. I don't know whose fault it was," said Mr Kitson.

The second car had been driving up to the roundabout from the direction of The Causeway.

Mr Kitson, who was not wearing his seatbelt, was flung across his girlfriend's lap on impact.

"Neither of us moved because we did not want to cause any damage to my neck. Jamie was screaming and he was quite upset," said Mr Kitson.

The driver of the second vehicle called the emergency services and the ambulance, police and fire brigade were soon at the scene.

Mr Kitson said he was very grateful to members of the public who came to their aid.

"Lots of people suddenly arrived on the scene to help. They got Jamie out of the car and helped to calm him down. I would really like to thank them and the other driver for raising the alarm. He was the first person to come over and check we were alright," said Mr Kitson.

The second driver from Calne, and the two passengers in the Ford Escort were uninjured but Mr Kitson was left trapped in his car.

Paramedics were worried that the crash had caused Mr Kitson possible spinal damage and the only way to remove him safely from the car was to cut off the roof.

Firefighters spent 20 minutes cutting off the roof and getting Mr Kitson out of the vehicle.

"He was complaining about an injury to his foot and we were all shocked when he said he had size 17 feet," said leading firefighter Jack Nicholson.

"It was quite a funny moment because suddenly ten firefighters said, "Size 17?" in shock. And when they took the roof off, I said, 'I always wanted a convertible,'" said Mr Kitson.

Two ambulances then took Mr Kitson and his two passengers to the Royal United Hospital in Bath where they were all checked over.

"Fortunately Jamie and Di were fine. I had X-rays and a CT scan and was there for about five hours. I was very lucky. I only had whiplash and some bruising to my thigh," Mr Kitson said.

"I only went to get cigarettes and I ended up in hospital."

Mr Kitson said he knew he was irresponsible in not wearing a seatbelt and he would definitely warn other drivers to wear one all the time.

PC Andy Fortune of Wiltshire Police said: "Many lives are saved and serious injuries avoided because people wear their seatbelts. I have been to so many incidents where people have been seriously or fatally injured because they were not wearing their seatbelts."

Mr Kitson's car was a write-off and he said it would be a long time before he got back in the driver's seat.

"I was a passenger today and I really did not like it but I had to get into town. The whole thing has shaken me up," he said. Mr Kitson, who works for Honda in Swindon, said the whole accident was very ironic. "I build cars for a living and then suddenly they are taking one apart to get me out," he said.

lcanter@newswilts.co.uk