Tuesday, September 10, 2013

More than Hundred car pile-up

Carmageddon: Hundred car pile-up on foggy bridge lasted 10 minutes - but incredibly, NO ONE was killed

  • 'Carnage' on new Sheppey crossing bridge on A249 in Kent at 7.15am saw cars and lorries crash into each other
  • Eight people seriously injured and another 200 with minor injuries - but no fatalities after incident this morning
  • Scene was full of buckled cars, lorries and car transporter amid reports some motorists were driving 'like idiots'
  • Stranded motorists sit on road for up to eight hours in 30C heat but left area by 3pm. Bridge reopens at 5.30pm
  • Local Conservative MP reveals he had concerns about design of bridge's lighting and will talk to the authorities
  • AA chief says crash may have been caused by 'stupid driving' - specifically tailgating and not using fog lights
  • Police say it's 'truly miraculous' that no one was killed in today's pile-up, which saw 33 people taken to hospital
  • Lives probably saved after lorry driver uses truck to block bridge entrance and stop more cars piling into crash
  • Drivers may have been caught out by irregular nature of fog patches in South East this morning, forecasters say
  • Institute of Advanced Motorists: 'Biggest single fog accident' in British history - and it's 'amazing' nobody died
By Mark Duell and Tom Kelly
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When the fog finally lifted it revealed a trail of carnage that stretched for almost 500 yards.
More than 100 cars were involved in a massive ten-minute pile-up after  visibility fell to just a few feet during rush hour yesterday morning.
Eight people were seriously injured and 200 walking wounded needed treatment at the scene. Police said it was ‘truly miraculous’ that nobody died in the biggest ever  accident caused by fog on British roads.
Motorists described their ‘blind terror’ in the seemingly endless succession of screeching tyres, crunching metal and smashing glass as cars, lorries and vans ploughed into each other and crumpled like concertinas.

Foggy: According to police around 100 vehicles were involved in the pile-up on a bridge in heavy fog, leaving at least eight people seriously injured
Foggy: According to police around 100 vehicles were involved in the pile-up on a bridge in heavy fog, leaving at least eight people seriously injured
Astonishing accident: At the scene on the Sheppey bridge in Kent, motorists caught up in the accident milled around in hot sunshine waiting to get their cars back
Astonishing accident: At the scene on the Sheppey bridge in Kent, motorists caught up in the accident milled around in hot sunshine waiting to get their cars back
Crash in Fog today on the Isle of Sheppey Bridge
The Isle of Sheppey Bridge saw a massive accident
From above: Those caught up in crashes were looked after by the emergency services and voluntary organisations who attended, such as the British Red Cross
What remains: The incident on the new Sheppey crossing bridge in Kent started at 7.15am and continued for 10 minutes as cars and lorries crashed into each other
What remains: The incident on the new Sheppey crossing bridge in Kent started at 7.15am and continued for 10 minutes as cars and lorries crashed into each other
One petrified driver was sent flying several feet into the air in her car by a collision, only to land and have several other vehicles hit the car from behind.
The chaos ended when a lorry driver bravely used his truck to block the entrance to the new Sheppey Crossing bridge in Kent to stop motorists driving towards the disaster.
Witnesses recalled ‘eerie silence’ in the aftermath as dazed motorists surveyed the buckled vehicles, cars rammed into the central reservation and trapped under lorries, and injured people lying on the Tarmac.
AA president Edmund King said ‘stupid driving’ may have been responsible, with motorists tailgating and not using fog lights despite only being able to see ten yards in front of them. He also joined the local MP in suggesting poor lighting on the bridge could have been a factor.
The pile-up started at 7.15am on the  London-bound A249 as it crosses from the Isle of Sheppey to the Kent mainland.
A general view of the scene on the London bound carriageway of the Sheppey Bridge Crossing
Eight people were seriously injured
The pile-up involving more than 100 vehicles on the bridge in heavy fog which has left eight people seriously injured and 60 suffering minor wounds in what witnesses described as 'carnage'

Damage: The pile-up involving more than 100 vehicles on the bridge left eight people seriously injured and many more suffering minor wounds in scenes of 'carnage'

Bridge crash: The scene from above on the London-bound carriageway of the Sheppey Bridge Crossing near Sheerness in Kent following a pile-up
Bridge crash: The scene from above on the London-bound carriageway of the Sheppey Bridge Crossing near Sheerness in Kent following a pile-up

It happened on the Isle of Sheppey bridge leading from the island into Kent
Witnesses told of the eerie aftermath of the pile-ups
Complete carnage: Witnesses told of the eerie aftermath of the pile-up on the Kent bridge, which happened at around 7.15am this morning


Massive crash: The scene on the London-bound carriageway of the Sheppey Bridge crossing near Sheerness in Kent following a multi-vehicle collision this morning
Massive crash: The scene on the London-bound carriageway of the Sheppey Bridge crossing near Sheerness in Kent following a multi-vehicle collision this morning
A general view of the scene on the London bound carriageway of the Sheppey Bridge Crossing
Emergency Services attend the site of a major traffic accident
Smashed up: Destroyed cars remained at the scene on the London-bound carriageway of the Sheppey Bridge Crossing, which was attended by emergency services
Assessing the destruction: Recovery workers clear damaged vehicles from the New Sheppey Crossing Bridge by the the Isle of Sheppey, Kent
Passing the time: A man reads a newspaper in his car which was involved in the crash on the London-bound carriageway of the Sheppey Bridge Crossing

Martin Stammers, 45, from Minster on the Isle of Sheppey, said: ‘It was horrific. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.
‘It was so foggy you couldn’t even see the tail lights of the car in front of you – it was like you were driving in a blanket.
‘I was very, very lucky. As I came to the top of the hill, there were about five cars already smashed up, one 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. You could hear the lorries thudding into cars, you could hear glass breaking, there was nothing we could do.
‘It was utter carnage. It must have gone on for about ten minutes.
‘Even after the police turned up, you heard further down the bridge – a quarter of a mile, half a mile away – cars still going into the back of each other.’
Shocking: The scene on the London bound carriageway of the Sheppey Bridge Crossing near Sheerness in Kent following a pile-up involving more than 100 vehicles
Shocking: The scene on the London bound carriageway of the Sheppey Bridge Crossing near Sheerness in Kent following a pile-up involving more than 100 vehicles

Busy day: Recovery workers walk along the Sheppey crossing bridge after more than 100 vehicles were involved in a major road traffic incident in Kent
Busy day: Recovery workers walk along the Sheppey crossing bridge after more than 100 vehicles were involved in a major road traffic incident in Kent

Big clean-up: A rescue worker carries a piece of the wreckage of one of the 100 vehicles involved in multiple collisions, which took place in dense fog
Big clean-up: A rescue worker carries a piece of the wreckage of one of the 100 vehicles involved in multiple collisions, which took place in dense fog
Waiting game: Drivers sit and stand by the side of the road to recover their vehicles after a major traffic accident on the A249 Sheppey crossing bridge in Kent
Waiting game: Drivers sit and stand by the side of the road to recover their vehicles after a major traffic accident on the A249 Sheppey crossing bridge in Kent
Spun around: The wreckage of some of the 100 vehicles involved in multiple collisions, which took place in dense fog during the morning rush hour
Spun around: The wreckage of some of the 100 vehicles involved in multiple collisions, which took place in dense fog during the morning rush hour

His son Jay, who works at his father’s shoe repair firm in Minster, added: ‘I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m still shaking now.
‘I spoke to one lady who said she thought she was going to die.
'Her car flew up in the air and when it landed it kept getting hit by other cars and she couldn’t get out. There was another lady with a little boy and they were both sobbing – we were trying to comfort them.
‘I could see people trapped in their cars. One elderly man had his leg stuck. One car I saw, the bonnet was squashed under a lorry – I don’t know how the driver survived. Every vehicle was just a mangled wreck.’
Assessing the destruction: Recovery workers clear damaged vehicles from the New Sheppey Crossing Bridge by the the Isle of Sheppey, Kent
Assessing the destruction: Recovery workers clear damaged vehicles from the New Sheppey Crossing Bridge by the the Isle of Sheppey, Kent

Stranded: Drivers and passengers sit on the central reservation after a multi-car crash on the New Sheppey Crossing Bridge by the the Isle of Sheppey, Kent
Stranded: Drivers and passengers sit on the central reservation after a multi-car crash on the New Sheppey Crossing Bridge by the the Isle of Sheppey, Kent
Taken away: A recovery worker straps the wreckage of a vehicle onto a tow truck on the Sheppey crossing bridge after over 100 vehicles were involved in a traffic accident
Taken away: A recovery worker straps the wreckage of a vehicle onto a tow truck on the Sheppey crossing bridge after over 100 vehicles were involved in a traffic accident

A driver waits on the pavement for his vehicle to be recovered at the site of a major traffic accident
A man sits by the side of the road awaiting vehicle recovery after a major traffic accident on the A249 Sheppey crossing bridge in Kent
Stranded: Drivers wait on the pavement for their vehicles to be recovered at the site of the major traffic accident on the A249 Sheppey crossing bridge in Kent

Recovery: Steve Seully, senior emergency planning officer for Kent County Council, said that stranded motorists had all left the area by around 3pm
Recovery: Steve Seully, senior emergency planning officer for Kent County Council, said that stranded motorists had all left the area by around 3pm

Twitter prankster targets accicent victims

Student Jaime Emmett, 19, said the fog was so thick you could only see a few cars in front.
Another driver, Chris Buckingham, praised the lorry driver who blocked the entrance to the bridge. He said: ‘Whoever that guy is, I’d like to shake his hand because he’s probably saved lives today.’
A fleet of 30 ambulances and other response vehicles treated some casualties at the roadside. Firefighters used hydraulic cutting equipment to free those who were trapped.
Examining the destruction: Emergency services attend the site of a major traffic accident on the A249 Sheppey crossing bridge on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent
Examining the destruction: Emergency services attend the site of a major traffic accident on the A249 Sheppey crossing bridge on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent

Emergency: A huge crash happened on the London bound carriageway of the Sheppey Bridge Crossing
Emergency: A huge crash happened on the London bound carriageway of the Sheppey Bridge Crossing
Big effort: The scene on the London bound carriageway of the Sheppey Bridge Crossing near Sheerness in Kent following a pile-up involving more than 100 vehicles
Big effort: The scene on the London bound carriageway of the Sheppey Bridge Crossing near Sheerness in Kent following a pile-up involving more than 100 vehicles
Examining the damage: A police officer looks at crashed vehicles on the New Sheppey Crossing Bridge by the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, following the accident
Examining the damage: A police officer looks at crashed vehicles on the New Sheppey Crossing Bridge by the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, following the accident

The four-lane bridge, which was opened in 2006 and rises 115ft over the water, was shut in both directions. Motorists sat on Tarmac for up to eight hours in 30C (86F) heat before it was reopened at 3pm.
Chief Inspector Andy Reeves, of Kent police, said he had never seen such a crash in 20 years, adding: ‘It’s truly miraculous. It’s very fortunate there were no fatalities.’
Mr King said driving close to the car in front in fog was ‘an absolute recipe for disaster’.
He added: ‘By law, you don’t have to have fog lights on, although it’s recommended. Unfortunately many people don’t know how to turn their fog lights on.
Shelter: Drivers, passengers and rescuers receive help form the Salvation Army after a multiple crash on the Sheppey bridge by the the Isle of Sheppey
Shelter: Drivers, passengers and rescuers receive help from the Salvation Army after a multiple crash on the Sheppey bridge by the the Isle of Sheppey

Huge collision: The aftermath of the pile-up on the Sheppey Bridge Crossing near Sheerness in Kent, following a multi-vehicle collision earlier this morning
Huge collision: The aftermath of the pile-up on the Sheppey Bridge Crossing near Sheerness in Kent, following a multi-vehicle collision earlier this morning
Long distance: This wide-angle photograph shows the collision, which saw the walking wounded taken down from the bridge on the Sittingbourne side
Long distance: This wide-angle photograph shows the collision, which saw the walking wounded taken down from the bridge on the Sittingbourne side
Numbered: The AA said drivers in the Kent accident were likely to be out of pocket as they faced paying the first £200 to £300 in accident claims
Numbered: The AA said drivers in the Kent accident were likely to be out of pocket as they faced paying the first £200 to £300 in accident claims
We are calling for a safety review on the A249 Sheppey Crossing to look at the speed limit, lack of matrix warning signs and lighting.’
Gordon Henderson, Conservative MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, added: ‘I have had concerns in the past, particularly about the level of lighting on the bridge.’
Neil Greig, policy director at the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: ‘This is the biggest single fog accident that Britain has ever had.
‘It is amazing that the same time it is also not the biggest in terms of people killed.’

Destruction: A Kent fireman walks past a car with no roof following a multiple crash on the New Sheppey Crossing Bridge by the Isle of Sheppey
Destruction: A Kent fireman walks past a car with no roof following a multiple crash on the New Sheppey Crossing Bridge by the Isle of Sheppey

Incredible pile-up: The incident on the new Sheppey crossing bridge in Kent started at 7.15am and saw a huge number of injuries after a massive crash
Incredible pile-up: The incident on the new Sheppey crossing bridge in Kent started at 7.15am and saw a huge number of injuries after a massive crash

Dozens of people have been injured, some seriously
A firefighter with a baby at the scene of the multi car pile up
Mammoth effort: Paramedics treated the injured and a firefighter held a baby at the scene of the multi-car pile-up on the Sheppey bridge in Kent today
A mother and her baby are taken away from the scene of the multi car pile up on the A249 Isle of Sheppey bridge in Kent
A mother and her baby are taken away from the scene
Distressing: A mother and her child are taken away from the scene of the multi-car pile up on the A249 Isle of Sheppey bridge in Kent
Grateful: Although there were believed to be eight people seriously injured, there were said to be no fatalities following the crash in Kent today
Grateful: Although there were believed to be eight people seriously injured, there were said to be no fatalities following the crash in Kent today

Paramedics on scene: Around 200 people had minor injuries following the crash near Sheerness in Kent
Paramedics on scene: Around 200 people had minor injuries following the crash near Sheerness in Kent
Helping out: Paramedics treat people on the London-bound carriageway of the Sheppey Bridge crossing
Helping out: Paramedics treat people on the London-bound carriageway of the Sheppey Bridge crossing
Why did it happen? Motorists involved could well have been travelling far too close to the vehicle in front and not using their fog lights, said AA president Edmund King
Why did it happen? Motorists involved could well have been travelling far too close to the vehicle in front and not using their fog lights, said AA president Edmund King
Glass everywhere: The scene of the crash on the new Sheppey bridge on the A249 in Kent which involved more than 100 vehicles and left 200 injured
Glass everywhere: The scene of the crash on the new Sheppey bridge on the A249 in Kent which involved more than 100 vehicles and left 200 injured
This photo shows the huge pile-up following the Sheppey crash
PA graphic showing the Sheppey bridge crash
'Saved lives': A lorry driver who saw the start of the accident used his truck to block the entrance to the bridge and stop more cars piling into the crash, a witness said


Discussion: Dozens and dozens of motorists are addressed by the police about their stranded vehicles after the multi-car crash on the A249 in Kent
Discussion: Dozens and dozens of motorists are addressed by the police about their stranded vehicles after the multi-car crash on the A249 in Kent
Aid: South East Coast Ambulance Service said it was dealing with a major incident and has deployed its hazardous area response teams to the scene
Aid: South East Coast Ambulance Service said it was dealing with a major incident and has deployed its hazardous area response teams to the scene
Tough conditions: A satellite image from 7.15am, when the crash occurred in Kent (circled). The fog is extensive in the south-eastern quarter of the UK
Tough conditions: A satellite image from 7.15am, when the crash occurred in Kent (circled). The fog is extensive in the south-eastern quarter of the UK


Car transporter: Thick fog causing extreme poor visibility is said to behind the accident, which took place on the bridge at about 7.15am this morning
Car transporter: Thick fog causing extreme poor visibility is said to behind the accident, which took place on the bridge at about 7.15am this morning
'Carnage': Hundreds of people have been injured, some seriously, after the pile-up of more than 100 vehicles on the A249 Sheppey crossing in Kent
'Carnage': Hundreds of people have been injured, some seriously, after the pile-up of more than 100 vehicles on the A249 Sheppey crossing in Kent

Reports of injuries: A Kent Police spokesman said visibility was a problem over the bridge this morning
Reports of injuries: A Kent Police spokesman said visibility was a problem over the bridge this morning
Misty conditions: The crash occurred on the new Sheppey crossing bridge on the A249 in Kent this morning
Misty conditions: The crash occurred on the new Sheppey crossing bridge on the A249 in Kent this morning

Wreckage: People were reportedly trapped and 30 ambulances and response vehicles went to the scene, with some casualties receiving treatment at the roadside
Wreckage: People were reportedly trapped and 30 ambulances and response vehicles went to the scene, with some casualties receiving treatment at the roadside

Major incident: Motorists were warned to avoid the area around the new Sheppey crossing bridge
Major incident: Motorists were warned to avoid the area around the new Sheppey crossing bridge

Emergency assistance: There were reports of six serious injuries and 200 minor injuries, police said
Emergency assistance: There were reports of six serious injuries and 200 minor injuries, police said
Fire service: Police were called at 7.15am to deal with the incident, with other emergency services
Fire service: Police were called at 7.15am to deal with the incident, with other emergency services
Extraordinary accident: Damaged cars on the Sheppey crossing in Kent this morning after a pile-up in fog
Extraordinary accident: Damaged cars on the Sheppey crossing in Kent this morning after a pile-up in fog
Crammed together: Drivers in the Kent bridge pile-up might have been caught out by the irregular nature of the fog patches this morning, according to forecasters
Crammed together: Drivers in the Kent bridge pile-up might have been caught out by the irregular nature of the fog patches this morning, according to forecasters
What a mess: Areas of Kent , Essex and parts of London suffered from some areas of this dense, patchy fog today
What a mess: Areas of Kent , Essex and parts of London suffered from some areas of this dense, patchy fog today

Early crash: Today was forecast to be mostly dry, sunny and very warm over central, southern and eastern England once the heavy early fog cleared
Early crash: Today was forecast to be mostly dry, sunny and very warm over central, southern and eastern England once the heavy early fog cleared

Concerns: The ambulance service said it believed there were eight patients with 'potentially' serious injuries following the crash in Kent this morning
Concerns: The ambulance service said it believed there were eight patients with 'potentially' serious injuries following the crash in Kent this morning

Pile-up: Some areas of Kent were relatively free of fog during the early rush-hour but there were also some dense patches in places
Pile-up: Some areas of Kent were relatively free of fog during the early rush-hour but there were also some dense patches in places
Response: Firefighters helped motorists out of their cars, while paramedics helped those injured
Response: Firefighters helped motorists out of their cars, while paramedics helped those injured
Huge pile-up: The accident occurred in thick fog with some witnesses saying that visibility was down to 20 yards in places and that motorists were 'driving like idiots' prior to the crash
Huge pile-up: The accident occurred in thick fog with some witnesses saying that visibility was down to 20 yards in places and that motorists were 'driving like idiots' prior to the crash
Aerial view: South East Coast Ambulance Service said it was dealing with a major incident with 30 ambulances and cars at the scene, but a spokesman said he was not aware of any deaths
Aerial view: South East Coast Ambulance Service said it was dealing with a major incident with 30 ambulances and cars at the scene, but a spokesman said he was not aware of any deaths
Astonishing: The scene on the bridge was a mass of tangled cars, lorries and even a car transporter, with reports saying that the crash went on for 10 minutes as cars continuously collided with each other
Astonishing: The scene on the bridge was a mass of tangled cars, lorries and even a car transporter, with reports saying that the crash went on for 10 minutes as cars continuously collided with each other
Location: The bridge is north of Kemsley, east of Gillingham, west of Faversham and north-east of Maidstone
Location: The bridge is north of Kemsley, east of Gillingham, west of Faversham and north-east of Maidstone


 

And it's not just Kent hit by the bizarre summer fog

Drivers in the Kent bridge pile-up might have been caught out by the irregular nature of the fog patches this morning in the South East, forecasters said.
The crash happened as parts of Kent, Essex and parts of London suffered from some areas of this dense, patchy fog yesterday between 4am and 8.30am.
It was forecast to be mostly dry, sunny and very warm over central, southern and eastern England once the early fog had cleared.
Misty: Fog in East London this morning, on a day when more than 100 vehicles were involved in a crash in the fog on the New Sheppey crossing bridge
Misty: Fog in East London this morning, on a day when more than 100 vehicles were involved in a crash in the fog on the New Sheppey crossing bridge


Early start: This cyclist battled through fog in East London this morning. Drivers in the bridge pile-up might have been caught out by the irregular nature of the fog patches
Early start: This cyclist battled through fog in East London this morning. Drivers in the bridge pile-up might have been caught out by the irregular nature of the fog patches
Eerie start to the day: The Houses of Parliament and Lambeth Bridge were shrouded in mist today in the early morning
Eerie start to the day: The Houses of Parliament and Lambeth Bridge were shrouded in mist today in the early morning

Difficult visibility: The towers of the old Battersea power station are seen over roof tops in London shrouded in mist in the early morning
Difficult visibility: The towers of the old Battersea power station are seen over roof tops in London shrouded in mist in the early morning

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