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Original poster

Worried someone travelling to me has been in an accident

135 replies

Schoolchoicesucks · 07/12/2023 17:33

My elderly parents were driving to visit me today. They left home at 9 and it's a max 4 hour journey and they haven't arrived. Can't find any reports of serious accidents on highways agency website. Both of their phones seem to be switched off as going straight to automated can't take your call right now.
The journey's 120 miles so not sure where to start ringing around hospitals. Any ideas for who else I could call to find out of they might have been in an accident?

OP posts:
Littlebluebird123 · 07/12/2023 17:35

Do you know the route they were taking? You can check for any traffic news on main roads.
Are you sure they left at that time?
Maybe they visited a friend/shopped along the way?

PuttingDownRoots · 07/12/2023 17:35

Try the non emergency police number?

ImNunTheWiser · 07/12/2023 17:35

101 non emergency police? How worrying for you. I hope everything is ok.

Paradiseflycatcher · 07/12/2023 17:35

What a worry, hope all is ok. Is there any other family you can call who might know if they've been delayed?

2chocolateoranges · 07/12/2023 17:37

Did they definitely leave at 9am?

Could they have stopped at friends or family enroute to you?

happinessischocolate · 07/12/2023 17:39

Can you say the route?

Someone might know if there's any road closures etc. which might have delayed them.

underneaththeash · 07/12/2023 17:42

Can you do find my iPhone? Work out where it last had signal and then start ringing local hospitals.

Original poster
Schoolchoicesucks · 07/12/2023 17:42

My husband's talking to non-emergency police now. Route would have been m6 from Manchester and m1 to London. They definitely left at 9am as they spoke to my sister who lives near them. No other family on the way for them to call in.

OP posts:
InTheRainOnATrain · 07/12/2023 17:42

Do you know their apple ID password to track their phone to its last known location? Hopefully they just left later than planned, driven really slowly, stopped for a long lunch or a wander round national trust place they saw the sign for and don’t realise you can charge a phone in the car.

SqueakingSnapfish · 07/12/2023 17:44

My parents often stop for lunch and extend a journey time that way. Any chance they might have done that?

FannyFifer · 07/12/2023 17:44

Goodness. Hope everything is ok & that they maybe went on a detour to go Xmas shopping or something.

Nomorecoconutboosts · 07/12/2023 17:44

Did they definitely leave at 9?
could they have forgotten or still be at home.
Do they always hear the phone - do you have anyone near to them who could double check?
could they have broken down/ got lost/lost track of time.
are there mobiles usually charged and not on silent?

it is a worry but there are a few things to consider before panicking,

lesdeluges · 07/12/2023 17:44
  1. Do you know for certain that they left and were on the road at 9am?
  2. Where would they stop to break the journey (120miles in four hours is very slow otherwise). It might be worthwhile having this information.
  3. I have a feeling they ran out of fuel or engine etc. trouble, hence not being able to charge up phones.
  4. Call the AA or whoever and ask if they have had a breakdown for car colour reg no xxxx on the route. They might not give you the information but can alert the mechanic to offer his phone to them if this is the case.

I might be completely off the wall with these suggestions, but it's meant well. It is so worrying.

I think you know what you have to do if there is no contact soon. Bless you.

Mamette · 07/12/2023 17:45

I hope you hear from them soon OP

Nomorecoconutboosts · 07/12/2023 17:45

Has (or could) your sister double checked they are not home? Perhaps if one had a medical issue and kind of forgot to update you or her re the change of plan?

MissHavershamReturns · 07/12/2023 17:46

So sorry about this anxiety you are having to have op.

MrsFloof · 07/12/2023 17:46

Hope all is OK. Hopefully they have just stopped off for lunch / Christmas shopping or a nap and will be with your shortly.

Panicmode1 · 07/12/2023 17:46

I really hope that you hear from them imminently @Schoolchoicesucks

If it's any consolation, my parents drove from Suffolk to Somerset last week and it took twice as long as it should have done, due to traffic, weather, road works....hope they are ok.

wobytide · 07/12/2023 17:46

Call some of the service stations along the route and see if they can put a call out potentially.

Even if you can get to a phone we're in an era where no one knows mobile numbers off the top of their head unlike old land lines.

I know it won't help this time around but when people have phones across android/iPhones if you have WhatsApp you can set that to share a live location for a set period of time as another option(for the journey home hopefully once you find them)

Hope it works out ok

rockymimosa · 07/12/2023 17:48

How worrying for you op. Is it out or character for their phones to be off? Could they have decided to stop off for lunch or some shopping on the way?

Try searching Twitter for any travel updates.

Original poster
Schoolchoicesucks · 07/12/2023 17:48

Thanks for the suggestions.
No location trackers for them. They've definitely left as my sister's been round to their house to find the car reg.

OP posts:
MrsFloof · 07/12/2023 17:48

Its saying there were 3 hour delays on M6 southbound today, might just be traffic.

rileynexttime · 07/12/2023 17:48

Thinking no news Is hopefully good news.🙏

Mynewnameis · 07/12/2023 17:49

Have you put the route into Google maps to check for delays?

TokyoSushi · 07/12/2023 17:49

Oh no, hopefully it's just traffic. Are they in a reliable car?

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