Truck driver trapped after horror smash with HGV

Jan 20 2011 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

A TRUCK driver was trapped in his cab for two hours after his vehicle was involved in a collision with an HGV.

The 50-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious leg injuries after his eight-wheel tipper lorry became embedded in the artic.

Firefighters had to rescue the man after the horror smash on the busy A72 at the Garrion Bridge, near Rosebank, on Monday at 9.50am.

They used hydraulic equipment to slice open the lorry and cut the driver free from the wreckage.

The Iveco lorry was travelling northwards at the time of the collision, while the Volvo artic was travelling in the opposite direction.

Two firefighters who were travelling behind the articulated lorry, were first on the scene.

Watch Commander Craig Dunsmore and firefighter Ross Barnes went to rescue the men, who were screaming for help. The truck driver’s legs were trapped underneath his vehicle’s dashboard.

The two firemen treated the injured drivers until paramedics arrived.

Firefighters used hydraulic cutters and rams to cut away sections of the lorry’s cab. Paramedics stabilised the driver while a surgical team was flown in by helicopter.

The rescued driver was put on a spine board and taken by ambulance to Glasgow Royal Infirmary. He was treated for a serious leg injury and medics later described his condition as stable.

The HGV driver was taken to Hairmyres Hospital and detained overnight for observation before being released the following day.

The road was closed in both directions for five hours as crash investigators examined the scene.

One motorist travelling to work in Hamilton was caught up in the aftermath of the crash.

He said: “The road was blocked and this caused major disruption to drivers travelling from Lanark to Hamilton and Glasgow.”

lAnyone with information on the accident should contact constable Jim Sheen at Motherwell Traffic Police on 01698 483125.