Van Driver Left Hanging Off Motorway Bridge After Accident

PA  |  Posted: 30/04/2012 21:35 Updated: 1/05/2012 09:38   PA

Motorway Crash
Emergency services managed to rescue the driver from his precarious position

A driver was left trapped as his van dangled off a motorway bridge above a pedestrian walkway.

Fire crews were met with the Italian Job-style drama after the van collided with a car and came to a stop with its rear end hanging off the road.

The incident happened at around 2.40pm on Monday at junction 26 of the M60 in Stockport, Greater Manchester.

Firefighters made the van safe using a hand winch to stabilise the vehicle before freeing the male driver using cutting equipment.

He was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary by ambulance.

A woman and a man were freed from the car by firefighters and airlifted to Wythenshawe Hospital by North West Air Ambulance.

Peter Lamb, of Whitehill Fire Station, said: "The van was hanging precariously off the motorway and it was balanced on the edge so the first thing the crews had to do was make it safe to make sure the vehicle didn't drop over the edge where the subway is.

"Once the van was stabilised, the crews were able to free the casualties. They freed the driver from the van and then the two people in the car who were taken to hospital by two air ambulances which were requested by the ambulance service.

"Where the collision happened is quite a complicated patch where the motorways all come together."

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A driver was left trapped as his van dangled off a motorway bridge above a pedestrian walkway. Fire crews were met with the Italian Job-style drama after the van collided with a car and came to a s...
A driver was left trapped as his van dangled off a motorway bridge above a pedestrian walkway. Fire crews were met with the Italian Job-style drama after the van collided with a car and came to a s...
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02:30 PM on 05/01/2012
Where is Health & Safety when you really need them? This barrier, on an elevated part of one of the busiest motorways in the UK, was obviously not fit for purpose. However hard the van hit the barrier, it should not have collapsed and should be designed to withstand a strike by a HGV. How many other motorways have been fitted with similar shoddy equipment?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Saint wright
Dyslexic old chippy
06:03 AM on 05/01/2012
i use to be a clerk of works on new roads, i cant undersand how the crash barrier didnt stop van , should stop heavy duty HGV? Hope driver ok?
12:01 AM on 05/01/2012
lucky to survive the crash but he would have made the fall ok it's not that high.imho
photo
Reality always bites
Sometimes just a bit peckish
11:27 PM on 04/30/2012
It never ceases to amaze how many perverse and unusual situations the emergency services have to deal with.
It is always nice to read about a good outcome (I hope the van driver makes a full recovery) to such an incident.
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chrisctpaul
Things can only get better
11:03 PM on 04/30/2012
Very lucky indeed. I can't work out in the picture how the van managed to defeat the crash barrier in the first place. These barriers are designed to be able to stop HGV vehicles, yet a van managed to break through?!
11:28 PM on 04/30/2012
Probably the van hit the car so hard the rear of the van must left the carriageway due to the force of the deceleration, ( if you watch a touring car on youtube hit a tyre wall and bounce) and landed on top off the barrier, crushing it.
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10:26 PM on 04/30/2012
maybe a confused pilot
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Christos Palmer
Χριστός Παλμερ
10:12 PM on 04/30/2012
Memories of the film The Italian Job comes to mind here, wonder if theres any gold in there?
11:29 PM on 04/30/2012
Repeating what was said in the main article, very good. D'oh.
01:24 AM on 05/01/2012
I agree, it's always a good idea to read the article (and sometimes a few other comments) before posting your own comment.
10:01 PM on 04/30/2012
talk about scary..well done.
09:56 PM on 04/30/2012
Well done rescue workers
10:17 PM on 04/30/2012
How lucky was that man. Hope they are all ok, and like you say, well done the rescue workers. Its like that advert on tv, where two men are sat in their car, then that guy hands them something, then whoops!!!
10:32 PM on 04/30/2012
We both hope the best for those who suffer. We can thank and praise those who have played their part in the rescue work. See the whole rather than being contrary. Good luck in your observations