British driver has been left 'traumatised' over Calais migrant death
A BRITISH motorist who knocked down and killed a migrant on the motorway near Calais has been left traumatised by the incident, his father said.
Scene of the fatal accident on the A16 near Calais which has left a father and son traumatised
Nafthali Reichman said his son Abraham was ambushed by a gang of migrants from the notorious Jungle camp as he drove towards the nearby Channel Tunnel terminal.
The 63-year-old believes the desperate Eritrean man tried to jump onto the bonnet of the car while it travelled at about at 40mph.
Mr Reichman said: "It was unbelievably terrifying. My son is traumatised and so am I.
"It happened in a split second. It was dark and suddenly someone jumped on to our car."
Work starts on wall near Calais' 'Jungle' migrant camp
Migrants walk alongside the motorway near Calais
He was on the bonnet and smashed the front windscreen. He could have had something in his hand
He continued: "He was on the bonnet and smashed the front windscreen. He could have had something in his hand.
"Once the windscreen was broken we saw a whole gang of migrants coming towards us and one of them broke the left mirror. We knew we had no chance. It was unbelievably frightening."
The jeweller, from Stamford Hill, north London, said: "The migrant disappeared from view after falling off the car.
"At the time we didn’t have clue what happened.
Police patrol roads leading to the Channel Tunnel
"There were lots of people on the road around us. I could see at least 10, but there could have been more.
"All I know is that someone ended up on the floor. He was on the car. But he flew to the other side. It was terrifying.
"We could barely see out of the windscreen, but we just kept driving. It was very upsetting."
French police said the migrants had been trying to slow down traffic in order to clamber on to the tops of vehicles – a common tactic used by asylum-seekers in the Calais area determined to reach Britain.
Migrants from the notorious Jungle camp are risking their lives to try to get to the UK
Abraham, who is also a jeweller, reported the incident to Channel Tunnel staff and was told to contact police in Calais.
The 35-year-old said: "I gave a statement to the police, they were very thankful that we came.
"I gave them my car and they were allowed to take forensics - they were extremely happy because we came forward."
A lorry heads for the Channel Tunnel near Calais
He added: "I went back to the police station the next day and they told me my case was closed and no further charges whatsoever would be put against me.
"A general prosecutor had decided to come up with this decision and no further charges would be made and I will not even have to appear in court."
French officials confirmed have confirmed the father-of-two will not be prosecuted.
The incident happened on Sunday night the Reichman's were heading back to the UK after visiting a sick relative in Belgium.