A LORRY driver whose 30-tonne HGV smashed into a bridge on the A64 was last night sitting up in hospital, having walked away from this devastating wreckage without serious injury.
The vehicle, which was carrying grain, hit the Castle Howard flyover two miles from Malton at about 2.25pm yesterday, causing extensive damage and closing the westbound carriageway.
The Yorkshire Air Ambulance was called and police said they feared the worst.
But although the lorry was very badly damaged, its driver escaped life-threatening injury and was last night said by 999 sources to be sitting up in bed and talking.
Chief Inspector Ian Thompson said: “The vehicles are very well made and are meant to take the impact and collapse to protect the driver.
“From what we first saw we were expecting it to be much more serious which is why the air ambulance was sent. It’s a very happy ending.”
The driver was out of the vehicle by the time firefighters arrived and was able to talk to police at the scene. The eastbound carriageway was temporarily closed to allow the air ambulance to land and to airlift the man to York Hospital, but quickly reopened. The westbound carriageway remained closed well into the evening.
The lorry driver, whose vehicle was from Clive Warcup hauliers near Driffield, was treated for a cut to his head and abdominal pains, a police spokesman said.
No other vehicles or people were involved in the crash.
An engineer was sent to check for any structural damage to the bridge, which was found to be safe, a police spokesman said.
Very lucky, happy ending which is the most important eh
Obviously came from the same lucky tree as this driver from the ND Easton Depot !!
Hit a Stationary baulker flat out, fifth wheel sheared and trailer squashed the cab from te rear as well !! Unit had 1600km’s on it lol, driver didn’t have a scratch !
Phantom Mark:
Very lucky, happy ending which is the most important eh
Obviously came from the same lucky tree as this driver from the ND Easton Depot !!
Hit a Stationary baulker flat out, fifth wheel sheared and trailer squashed the cab from te rear as well !! Unit had 1600km’s on it lol, driver didn’t have a scratch !
I don’t think i would have been so lucky in this one, not much room for the family pack in between the steering wheel and seat!
If nothing else, the scanny incident shows the importance of wearing seatbelts. He would have been a guaranteed candidate for kissing tarmac without one.
A LORRY driver whose 30-tonne HGV smashed into a bridge on the A64 was last night sitting up in hospital, having walked away from this devastating wreckage without serious injury.
The vehicle, which was carrying grain, hit the Castle Howard flyover two miles from Malton at about 2.25pm yesterday, causing extensive damage and closing the westbound carriageway.
The Yorkshire Air Ambulance was called and police said they feared the worst.
But although the lorry was very badly damaged, its driver escaped life-threatening injury and was last night said by 999 sources to be sitting up in bed and talking.
Chief Inspector Ian Thompson said: “The vehicles are very well made and are meant to take the impact and collapse to protect the driver.
“From what we first saw we were expecting it to be much more serious which is why the air ambulance was sent. It’s a very happy ending.”
The driver was out of the vehicle by the time firefighters arrived and was able to talk to police at the scene. The eastbound carriageway was temporarily closed to allow the air ambulance to land and to airlift the man to York Hospital, but quickly reopened. The westbound carriageway remained closed well into the evening.
The lorry driver, whose vehicle was from Clive Warcup hauliers near Driffield, was treated for a cut to his head and abdominal pains, a police spokesman said.
No other vehicles or people were involved in the crash.
An engineer was sent to check for any structural damage to the bridge, which was found to be safe, a police spokesman said.
Chief Inspector Ian Thompson said: “The vehicles are very well made and are meant to take the impact and collapse to protect the driver.
What planet is he from? not many crumple zones on a cab over. 44000 kg travelling at 90 kph (13750000 joules) is a lot of kinetic energy to disperse at a sudden stop, there is no way any manufactyrer can design for that.
Chief Inspector Ian Thompson said: “The vehicles are very well made and are meant to take the impact and collapse to protect the driver.
What planet is he from? not many crumple zones on a cab over. 44000 kg travelling at 90 kph (13750000 joules) is a lot of kinetic energy to disperse at a sudden stop, there is no way any manufactyrer can design for that.
Modern cabs are designed as a cage that moves forward or backwards on impact so that the engine/gearbox takes the majority of the force and the cab acts as a “shell” to protect the driver. Yes, it will crumple on such an impact, but the initial force will be weakened by the engine/chassis/gerbox.
You also need to bare in mind that these pictures where after the fire service extricated the driver. Even so, looking at it the driver was very lucky to walk away from it.
smokinbarrels:
You also need to bare in mind that these pictures where after the fire service extricated the driver. Even so, looking at it the driver was very lucky to walk away from it.
Regards SB
The driver was out of the vehicle by the time firefighters arrived and was able to talk to police at the scene.
smokinbarrels:
You also need to bare in mind that these pictures where after the fire service extricated the driver. Even so, looking at it the driver was very lucky to walk away from it.
Regards SB
And if you’d read it properly, you’d notice the DRIVER was OUT talking to police before fire engines arrived
Very lucky to walk away from that one, bet there will be a few questions for him when hes a bit better though.
