Woman home for Christmas months after M1 crash

A woman who was severely injured in a crash after her husband had a heart attack at the wheel says she has "great hope" after finally being allowed home from hospital.

Sonia and Mark Meakin had been driving along the M1 in Nottinghamshire in July when he became unwell. Despite Sonia grabbing the steering wheel, she was unable to prevent their car from crashing on a slip road.

Mark died at the scene, while his wife spent two weeks in a coma with severe injuries requiring 19 operations.

Following treatment in hospital and a rehabilitation centre, Sonia returned to her home in Spondon, Derby, on Friday.

"It's tinged with sadness but also great hope for the future," she told the BBC.

"There are so many different emotions going through me today, saying goodbye to people here [at the hospital] but also knowing I'm going home for the first time in five months.

"The doctor said my stubbornness had helped me get through and pushed me to where I am today, going home to be with my family, my children, my grandchildren and my dog."

Having recently returned from a holiday, the couple were driving to meet friends for a meal when the crash happened on the evening of 11 July.

Mark, 51, told his wife he felt like he was going to blackout and then became unresponsive.

Sonia, 56, grabbed the wheel and tried to pull over on to the slip road, but their car hit another vehicle and caused a domino effect with a further three cars becoming involved.

While her husband died at the scene, Sonia was rushed to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham with extensive injuries, including broken wrists, elbows, fibula and tibia along with wounds to her stomach, diaphragm and spleen.

From there, she was transferred to rehabilitation unit Linden Lodge at Nottingham City Hospital.

Recovery has been slow and painful, but she said she was making good progress with her mobility and had recently been able to tackle steps for the first time.

Now, the grandmother of two is looking forward to continuing her journey back to wellness in a house filled with love.

"I feel so much more positive than I did a few months ago," she said. "I've got my wonderful Mary Poppins - my sister - my children, my grandchildren, my nephew and nieces. I couldn't ask for more support really.

"I've got to rest and recover - so I can just watch Christmas films and be happy."

Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.