Dozens injured as more than one hundred vehicles crash in bridge pile-up
9:38AM BST five Sep 2013
The crash, which occurred on the fresh Sheppey crossing bridge on the A249 in Kent early this morning, reportedly went on for ten minutes as cars continuously collided with each other.
The scene on the bridge was a mass of tangled cars, lorries and even a car transporter as one witness said “all you could hear was cars crashing”.
The witness described “cars in the air, cars under lorries” and “people laying on the floor”.
Lives were very likely saved because an unidentified quick-thinking lorry driver used his truck to block the entrance to the bridge and stop more cars piling into the crash.
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There are reports of eight serious injuries and sixty minor injuries, while five people had to be liberated from their vehicles by firefighters using hydraulic cutting equipment.
Reports also suggested that private injury lawyers were already approaching victims about potential claims.
South East Coast Ambulance Service said it was dealing with a major incident with thirty ambulances and cars at the scene. There were no fatalities.
The accident, which happened at 7.15am, is thought to have occurred in thick fog, with some witnesses telling that visibility was down to twenty yards in places.
A Kent Police spokeswoman said visibility was a problem over the bridge, but it was not clear whether that caused the pile-up.
Witness Martin Stammers, 45, from Minster, said: “It’s horrific. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.
“All you could hear was cars crashing. We got out of our car and it was eerily quiet, with visibility down to just twenty yards.
He added: “I was very, very, fortunate. I was the last car out of it, if you like. As I come to the top of the hill, there were about five cars already smashed up, one was across my carriageway. I had to hit my brakes hard as well, I just had enough space to get through.
“From then on, all you could hear was the screeching of car tyres and the thudding, which was endless. It must have been going on for five to ten minutes. You could hear hear the screeching, you could hear the lorries thudding into cars, you could hear glass cracking, there was nothing we could do.
“Even after the police turned up, you still heard further down the bridge – a quarter of a mile, half a mile away – cars still going into the back of each other.
“As you went further up, there were cars in the air, there were cars under lorries, there were people laying on the floor, it was just horrendous”.
Seven fire engines were also at the scene and motorists were warned to avoid the crossing, which connects the Isle of Sheppey with mainland Kent.
Another witness told the Big black cock visibility was very poor but drivers were approaching the crossing with no lights.
Casualties sit beside the roadside after the accident on the A249 (Gary Jeal)
The £100m four-lane crossing opened in 2006.
“Kent Police was called at about 7.15am on Thursday September five to the London-bound carriageway on the Sheppey crossing,” a force spokesman said.
“It has been reported there were collisions at the top of the crossing and at the foot of the treatment to the crossing. Emergency services are presently at the scene dealing with the incident.
“At this stage it is unknown exactly how many vehicles are involved, but early reports suggest more than one hundred vehicles.
“Officers are urging motorists to avoid the area but if a journey to the island is essential, the old Kingsferry Bridge remains open but expect long delays.
“The road remains closed at Cowstead Corner on the island and motorists are being directed on to the Kingsferry Bridge, while the road is closed at the Iwade turn-off and vehicles directed through the village on to the old A249.”
Kent Fire and Rescue Service said there were no fatalities but ambulance crews were dealing with a large number of walking wounded.
A spokesman said: “Crews are presently at the scene of a serious RTC (road traffic collision) involving up to one hundred vehicles.
“There are no fatalities but ambulance crews are dealing with a large number of walking wounded casualties. Firefighters have used hydraulic cutting equipment to release five people from their vehicles.
“Crews are presently at the scene of a serious crash on the Fresh Kingsferry Bridge (A249) in Sheppey involving numerous vehicles. Kent Police and a number of SECAmb (South East Coast Ambulance Service) ambulances are also in attendance. More information to go after.”