A FARNHAM woman spoke this week about her lucky escape following a nightmare accident in which a driverless van ploughed into her car.

Special needs teacher Helena Walker, 23, is still recovering from the accident - which was the second to happen on Brambleton Avenue in less than two weeks. She is now calling for action to prevent further crashes.

Helena was parking her car outside her Brambleton Avenue home last Thursday evening and, glancing in her mirror, saw the driverless Fiat Scudo van heading down the hill towards her.

"It was like being in a horror film," said a shaken Helena. "The van was completely silent, I could see that no one was driving it, and it was coming straight for me. There was no way I could have got out of my car in time to avoid it."

The impact of the crash forced Helena's Renault Clio into the wall of a neighbouring garden.

But the crash did nothing to stop the van's progress down the hill and as the gradient increased it gathered speed, smashing into two more cars before finally coming to a rest.

Chris Walker, Helena's father, called an ambulance which took his daughter straight to Frimley Park Hospital. She was treated for shock and minor injuries to her neck and shoulders and discharged later that evening.

Helena explained: "This is the second time a vehicle has rolled down the hill in less than two weeks. Something really needs to be done before someone is badly injured. I feel very badly shaken and I am still on painkillers for my injuries, but I'm so lucky not to have been seriously hurt."

Police are still investigating what caused the accident, but a spokesman said they have not ruled out the possibility that the van's handbrake was faulty.

In the other accident less than two weeks ago, an unattended four-wheel drive vehicle rolled into a lamp post.

In March last year another runaway vehicle caused more than £20,000 worth of damage when it crashed into the living room of a house on the hill.

Helena's next-door-neighbour Pippa Hufton, who owns one of the cars which was damaged in last week's incident, said: "There are a lot of young children and elderly people who live in this area. Runaway vehicles make no sound, so any pedestrian on the road has no warning that they may at risk.

"Helena was the first person to be involved in an accident like this on the road, but it could very easily happen again."

Residents plan to meet in the next few weeks to discuss how to make the road safer.

"Basically if people leave their cars in gear, always check the handbrake, and turn the wheels of the parked car towards the kerb the chance of an accident happening is very much reduced. We are trying to think of ways to remind people to take these precautions," explained Pippa.

Suggestions to improve safety on the hill include issuing all residents with stickers for their front doors to remind them and their visitors to take extra precautions when parking.

Residents are also hoping to speak to the County Council's highways department to look into any other solutions that could be introduced on the road.