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The Welney Website
exclusive news report
lorry in
ditch at Tipps End, Nov 2006 |
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An 44-tonne
articulated truck operated by R.W.Simpson Ltd of Ramsey went off the March
Road, Tipps End into the ditch opposite Pear Tree Cottage at about 6pm on
Thursday 23rd November 2006.
An ambulance
attended, but fortunately the driver was uninjured apart from some bruises and
a sore shoulder and he remained at the scene.
Apparently he
had pulled over to avoid an oncoming car/taxi in the middle of the road.
Here you can see
the white cab of the overturned Volvo unit in the ditch, with the trailer of
another truck on the left and the yellow cab of one of the recovery vehicles. |
The trailer
laying on its side in the ditch. It was loaded with fruit and vegetables which
had to be transferred manually to another of Simpson's vehicles (the blue
Scania 114L on right) before it could be winched out.
Two breakdown
trucks and a lorry mounted crane from Manchett's attended, and recovery began
about 10pm.
Norfolk County
Council's Highways Dept sent a crew to put 'Road Closed/Diversion' signs in
several places, including, I understand, at the Welney Main Street/New Road
junction, but unfortunately not at Lakes End, which caused some problems.
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The scene
next morning.
This stretch
of road is very dangerous for trucks, and a similar accident occurred just a
few yards further on two years ago.
The road
surface is crumbling away into the ditch, and the road has been narrowed by an
overgrown coniferous hedge on the other side, as you can see from the photos
below.
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the edge of the road is
crumbling away, pulling vehicles to the left.
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here you can see the verge and
hedge encroaching into the road.
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the tyre marks of the truck
beginning to go off the road surface.
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since these photos were taken,
the Highways Dept have placed marker bollards by the accident spot which do
give drivers some warning of the problem. |
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