A couple had a lucky escape when a lorry crashed into their broken down caravan which was parked on the hard shoulder
The accident happened on the busy eastbound A27, between Emsworth and Chichester, at 12.45pm today ( Monday 22 October 2012 )
The couple were out of the car towing the caravan and were standing behind the barrier when the collision occurred. The caravan toppled over into the middle of the road. Firefighters were called as there were gas canisters in the caravan but they were found to be safe. No one was injured but the accident led to long delays until the vehicles were recovered.
Yup ard129, that's what I thought, I know this road very well and there is no "proper" hard shoulder and no nearside barrier. I'm confused, but no matter, the 'vanners and everyone else nearby were safe!
Very good job no one was hurt, it just shows how much damage can be caused by a lorry if the driver is not paying attention.
Unfortunately, up where I live, a young man has just lost his life when trying to push his car into the side of the road after running out of fuel, he was hit by a truck.
I also lost a cousin, years ago, who was an ambulance driver attending a suspected heart attack victim on the hard shoulder of a motorway, when a lorry veered into the hard shoulder into the back of the ambulance (he was stood behind it getting it ready to accept the patient.
Also highlights the importance of getting the car serviced regularly and checking the oil, water etc before setting out to avoid breaking down in the first place.
I'm not suggesting this breakdown could have been avoided but a lot can.