Ninety in the Fast Lane

Most nonagenarians are content to take things slowly. Not Stanley Murphy, who despite being 90 has had an unexpected taste of life in the fast lane.

Motorists hurtling along the A27, a busy major road that runs through Sussex, were surprised to discover the pensioner chugging along the carriageway in his eight mph mobility scooter. Mr Murphy, from Shoreham, near Hove, was also somewhat startled.

His trip had begun sedately enough, when he popped out to buy a newspaper yesterday lunchtime. One wrong turn later and he was suddenly traveling westbound along the A27 towards the Shoreham flyover with cars and lorries racing past him at 70mph.

James Dunne, who owns a paving company, spotted Mr Murphy and pulled over. He switched on the flashing lights on his truck in a bid to stop the slow-moving scooter, attempting to flag him down while also calling police.

“The old chap looked pretty confused and scared and looked like he was not going to stop,” said Mr Dunne, 46.

The pensioner initially attempted to overtake his truck, but apparently thought better of it an pulled in.

“He did not say very much and looked pretty shell-shocked,” Mr Dunne told The Argus. He did not tell me his name but said he was trying to get back to Mill Hill, where he lives with his daughter.”

Police arrived soon afterwards and obligingly gave Mr Murphy a lift back home. Mr Dunne loaded the scooter onto his truck and drove it back for him.

Once home after his adventure, Mr Murphy expressed his gratitude to those who had made sure it ended safely.

“I don’t know how I ended up on the A27 but I am thankful to everyone who helped me,” he said.

A Sussex police spokesman said that by law an electric mobility scooter, as a mechanically propelled vehicle, requires a tax disc and number plate before it can be driven on a main road like the A27.

“However, this gentleman was obviously confused and in the circumstances it is unlikely that we would take any further action.”

SOURCE: TIMESONLINE