Police reopen A1 lorry-push inquiry (VIDEO)
A HAULAGE company has reopened an investigation into a motorway accident after a video was posted on the internet showing a car trapped sideways on the front bumper of one of its wagons travelling at 60mph.
A passenger in a nearby car captured the footage on a mobile phone.
-
TERROR: The Arclid Transport lorry pushes a car along sideways at 60mph. Above, the dramatic footage captured on a driver's mobile phone.
It shows a lorry operated by Sandbach-based Arclid Transport travelling along the A1(M) near Wetherby in West Yorkshire with a blue Renault Clio attached to its front.
West Yorkshire Police said officers had become aware of the 22-second video on Wednesday and would be working with the company to establish the exact circumstances of the incident which happened in January.
It remains unclear exactly how the car got lodged, or how long the motorist remained trapped, or why the lorry driver appeared not to notice the car.
The footage available on YouTube also includes a male voice shouting: "He hasn't seen it!"
A West Yorkshire police spokesman said: "On January 13 at around 8.30am we attended a road traffic collision on the southbound A1 near Wetherby to a report that a blue Renault Clio had been in collision with a HGV.
"At the time of our attendance there were no injuries and both vehicles were on the hard shoulder of the motorway. As a result, at the time, the incident was treated as a damage only-collision. However, in light of the new evidence that has come to light we are reinvestigating the collision and the matter has today been passed to our major collision enquiry team and enquiries are ongoing."
A spokesman for the Sandbach company, which employs 30 staff and has 25 wagons in its fleet, said an investigation had been launched. An Arclid Transport spokesman said: "An incident did happen along a stretch of the A1(M) and we opened an investigation and reported the matter to the police.
"That matter had been formally closed until we saw the video. As a responsible company we have reopened that investigation."
The spokesman said that the lorry driver had stopped and that the motorist was unhurt.
Barry Proctor, a board member of the Road Haulage Association and owner of Talke haulage firm Barry Proctor Services, pictured, said: "It must have been terrifying for the driver, although it's difficult to say what's happened.
"I also know that the drivers at Arclid Transport have a lot of experience.
"What I don't think people realise is just how many blind spots lorries have even with all the mirrors with which they're fitted.
"I had a school visit to demonstrate the blind spot at the front of the cab. A teacher sat in the driver's seat couldn't see a pupil until they were 20 feet away."
Paul Biggs, Staffordshire co-ordinator for the Association of British Drivers, said: "It could have ended in tragedy. It does show how mobile phones can be used to bring new evidence to light."
18 Comments
View all
by Blanche, Canada
Saturday, March 20 2010, 5:16AM
“To Kevin Stoke - did you see this car driver not look before she changed lanes? I ask this because we should not assume that this is so in this case unless we saw it ourselves. Not to say you may not be right. It wil be interesting to see what the investigation turns up.”
by cidernine, Canada
Saturday, March 20 2010, 5:13AM
“To Kevin Stoke -- did you see this car driver move out of their lane without looking first? I ask this because I don't think one can assume that the car driver in this case did or did not look unless they saw it. While you may have experienced seeing a car driver do this in the past, it does not mean that this car driver did. However, I myself do not know the whole story so it will be interesting to see what the investigation turns up. Very scary to watch must say.”
by kevin, stoke
Friday, March 19 2010, 8:25PM
“As a lorry driver of fithteen years i have see this happen may times before
the car driver has pull out of lane not checking his blind spot and conexting with the lorry wear the car is then spun across the front of the lorry
fthe lorry driver has a blind view of probly 8/10 feet infront of his cab so he can not see the car below him and with the radio on its very hard to here anything like the tyers of the car screaching the car driver should have been more careful when moveing out of his/her lane they could have killed themselfs or the the inocente lorry driver or lots more people”
by paul cooke, bucknall
Friday, March 19 2010, 6:14PM
“I once saw a similar accident to this in the centre of Stoke opposite the then Woolworths. It was only when members of the public got the lorry drivers attention that he stopped.”
by Claire, Stone
Friday, March 19 2010, 3:56PM
“Stan, Hanley "No one is implying the company 'staged' an incident, one happened, how,who and why is for the police to find out."
Erm Stan implied it down there. I assume you are a different Stan?”
by Mick Penning, newcastle, staffs
Friday, March 19 2010, 3:42PM
“To Arthur Stoke:
Lay off ganging up on my mate, he's doing his best.”
by Raymond, Staffs
Friday, March 19 2010, 3:20PM
“B Jones, I don't think those lights you see are brake lights, more like rear fog lights as towards the end of the video its seems misty in the distance. Also, it may seem like the truck is speeding along, but the driver in the car that's videoing the event may have been also slowing down. I've been told by truck drivers that this type of accident has happened before....”
by Stan, Hanley
Friday, March 19 2010, 2:37PM
“''Stan, why would the haulage company admit there was an incident if it was 'staged'? ''
No one is implying the company 'staged' an incident, one happened, how,who and why is for the police to find out.”
by Arthur, Stoke
Friday, March 19 2010, 2:17PM
“Warren, could you re-post your first comment as I really cannot understand what you are trying to say? (No offence).”
by B jones, Talke
Friday, March 19 2010, 1:54PM
“Am I the only one to notice that all the time that the rear of the truck is in view the brake lights are on? There seems to be an assumption that because there is a truck involved it's the truck driver who''s at fault. How did the car come to be side on to the truck inth first place?”