It was like a scene from a Hollywood blockbuster.
That was how Mark Johnson described what unfolded in front of him as he watched a horrific smash that killed Paul Michael Hobday, 60, and Christine Michelle Edney, 69 on the Ilminster bypass stretch of the A303.
"I have been to hundreds of road traffic collisions but it is incredibly rare to see one take place right in front of you," said Mr Johnson who was a police officer with Avon and Somerset Constabulary for 16 years.
"With everything I have seen over the years I couldn't believe what unfolded in front of my eyes.
"It was like being in a film. It was pure carnage."
The couple from Canvey Island, Essex, were killed when a car and van collided on Thursday, August 30, and two others suffered serious injuries.
The road was closed for six hours with the air ambulance, paramedics, police and firefighters scrambled to the scene.
The East Somerset coroner Tony Williams has opened and adjourned an inquest into the pair's death.
"I was eight or ten cars behind the van when I saw the collision," said Mr Johnson.
"The van and the car hit head on and spread across the carriageway. I got out of the car and there was someone trying to apply first aid.
"It was obvious straight away that there was nothing that could be done for the couple in the car.
"I was there for five hours giving witness statements as the road accident investigation team did their job."
Ilminster-born Mr Johnson, 49, has also served as a firefighter in the Bristol area and today is a qualified driving instructor, training a huge range of drivers from police officers to professional hauliers.
He said that loss of life on the roads was tragic.
"Every road crash is different. You will have witnesses walking around in shock because they can't believe what they have seen," he said.
"You will have passengers who are out of their minds and of course there are those who will need emergency treatment.
"Once you get the job done you think blimey, there's a door that you need to knock on to break the news to the family.
"As a police officer you go to the inquests and hear the accident investigation guys give a synopsis of what happened.
"It is a horrendous feeling when you hear that not only has a family lost a loved one but that it was totally avoidable.
"In the emergency services we talk about the ripple effect.
"From partners, parents, colleagues and even to nurses and doctors, one bad incident can affect a huge amount of people."
Living just a few miles north of the A303 in Langport, Mr Johnson said he thinks dualling the road will saves lives.
He said: "When they decided to put the Ilminster bypass in I could never understand why they didn't make it a dual carriageway. All predictions were that the amount of cars using the road would increase.
"It is often a case that crashes could have so easily been avoided. Driving is an art.
"There are no dangerous roads, just dangerous drivers.
"The biggest problem is people's attitudes. They get in a car and think they are immortal and are always in a rush.
"There are far too many 'close your eyes and hope' manoeuvres taking place.
"For the first time in 18 years the number of deaths and serious injuries caused on the roads is up.
"The Government has a duty of care to those drivers and unfortunately the attitude change will take far too long. In the case of the A303 it needs to be dualled.
"Dualling will put in a central reservation and immediately mean that head-on collisions are avoided and drastically reduce the amounts of accidents and the number of fatalities.
"It will save lives and that is why I am backing the Western Gazette's campaign."
Mr Johnson, who is a director of Wyvern Driver Training, said he also believed motorists should be required to undergo more training throughout their lives.
For more details about driver training you can contact Mr Johnson at wyverntraining@btinternet.com. HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE A303 DUAL IT! CAMPAIGNA303 Dual It! online petition and forms to downloadINTERACTIVE MAP OF A303 CRASHES - 2006-2011A303 Dual It: Interactive map shows crashes on A303 between 2006 and 2011
