Friday 26th February 2016 – 3.20pm – Jamie Arrowsmith.
A man’s decision to get out of his broken down vehicle and await rescue on the safety of a motorway embankment has potentially saved him from serious injury following a seven-vehicle collision on the southbound M6 this afternoon.
The man had moved to the safety of a grass bank after his van broke down just past junction 13 whilst waiting for recovery, a decision which proved extremely wise given the collision that followed.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the incident shortly before 12.30pm and sent three ambulances and a paramedic area support officer to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, crews discovered seven vehicles that had been in collision, a combination of vans and HGVs.
“Thankfully, the driver of one of the vans that had broken down prior to the collision had moved away from his vehicle whilst awaiting recovery otherwise he potentially may have suffered serious injuries in the collision that followed.
“Crews assessed three patients, two lorry drivers and one woman who witnessed the accident and was treated for the effects of shock.
“She, together with one of the lorry drivers, was treated and discharged at the scene.
“The other lorry driver, a man, was treated for cuts to his face and taken to New Cross Hospital for further assessment.
“The incident caused significant traffic issues on both sides of the carriageway.”
Ends
I came down this stretch of the M6 this morning before this accident, did the vehicle break down on the live carriageway as the hard shoulder has now gone on this part of the motorway and myself and my partner were commenting about how dangerous it is and how someone is going to get injured if they breakdown and have nowhere to go to get out of the way of the fast moving traffic!
It is a really scary thought especially if not driving a brand new car that you could break down and come to a stop without being able to get to the refuge areas.