A WOMAN who almost died in a serious car crash more than 40 years ago has been reunited with her 'guardian angel' – a former Northwich traffic officer.

PC Kevin Milnes rescued Widnes passenger Angela Tudor when the car she was in crashed into a lamppost on Dundalk Road in June 1979.

Angela made a full recovery after suffering broken bones and head injuries, and was unaware that Kevin tragically sustained even more serious injuries in a crash 10 years later.

The officer lost control of his police car on a sharp bend during a pursuit in Great Sankey in October 1989, with his injuries forcing him to retire and leaving him paralysed and unable to talk.

Angela became aware of Kevin’s crash and his subsequent disabilities after recognising him on a Widnes Police social media post several weeks ago, when he was presented with a speech-generating device donated by the North West Police Benevolent Fund.

Northwich Guardian:

Kevin Milnes, right, during his days as a traffic officer

A meeting was arranged in Widnes on Tuesday, November 19, and Angela was finally able to thank the 69-year-old at the residential care home he lives in.

Kevin initially did not recognise Angela but, incredibly, towards the end of her visit something clicked and Kevin was even able to detail the precise location in which it occurred.

Angela, 63, said: “It was a highly emotional experience meeting Kevin again after all these years.

“He was my guardian angel when I was in a car crash more than 40 years ago.

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“I woke up thinking that I was going to die, but thankfully Kevin was there to reassure and help me.

“I have never forgotten what he did for me that day, during what was probably the most frightening experience of my life.

“I will be forever indebted to him for it, and I am so pleased that I have been able to see him again and belatedly thank him for being so fantastic during my time of need."

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Kevin, who is from Oldham and worked as a traffic officer in Widnes, St Helens and Northwich, also enjoyed the reunion.

He said: “I really enjoyed being a police officer, and it is nice thinking back about all the people I helped whilst doing the job, including Angela.”

Kevin was once commended for excellent police work in effecting the arrest of two men in difficult circumstances.

Angela, who called Kevin's injury a 'cruel twist of fate', is helping Cheshire Police raise awareness of the many hazards that people face every time they drive.

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Forty-six people died on Cheshire’s roads last year – more than double the 2017 total – while 32 people have died since January.

In May, the constabulary launched a Fatal 5 campaign to highlight the five main causes of serious collisions.

They are careless driving, speeding, driving distracted while using a mobile phone (technology), drink/drug driving and not wearing a seatbelt.