Subaru saves from storm Darragh

On the weekend of the 7th of December, Storm Darragh hit the UK with up to 67mph winds across coastal areas, causing a yellow weather warning to be issued across England and Wales. Rivers started to rise and trees started to fall, particularly during the journey of a couple and their dog!

Claire Smith and David Panton were driving down a hill through Chagford in the county of Devon behind the wheel of their 2017 Subaru Forester when the treacherous winds of Storm Darragh caused a tall tree to fall on top of their vehicle. As the tree came down, it completely crushed the top of the vehicle, denting the roof and immediately smashing the glass of the windscreen onto where Mr and Mrs Panton were sitting.

We were very happy to hear that the lovely pair and their beloved dog, Parker walked away from the accident completely unharmed. Once the police arrived at the scene and assessed the damage to the vehicle, they advised the family t0hat it was the steel structure built into the Forester that saved their lives and if it would have been any less of a sturdy vehicle they were driving, things could have ended a lot differently.

Lucie Panton, daughter-in-law of Claire and David called it a “Christmas miracle!”.

As their 2017 Forester was unfortunately written off from the accident, they have recently repurchased a 2018 model Forester from Livery Dole, a Subaru dealership in Exeter.

The couple have expressed that although their now written-off Forester was their first Subaru vehicle, the experience they had during Storm Darragh has been enough to convince them that it will not be their last!