Huge delays as lorry jack-knifes

A 41-year-old Shropshire lorry driver was airlifted to hospital today after a smash causing traffic gridlock and delays of several hours on one of the county’s busiest roads.

The lorry jack-knifed close to junction 7 of the M54 at Wellington shortly after 6am, leaving the driver from Shrewsbury injured inside the cab. It followed a collision with another lorry.

Firefighters had to cut the door off the cab for paramedics to get to the driver, and he was flown to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. The driver of the second lorry was unhurt.

Drivers travelling from Shrewsbury towards Telford remained at a standstill as emergency services worked.

Frustrated motorists trying to get to work started turning around in the road as far back as Preston Island in Shrewsbury.

Police officers later diverted motorists back down the hard shoulder towards Shrewsbury. The eastbound carriageway of the motorway remained closed for several hours.

Fire crews from Telford, Wellington and Shrewsbury were called to the crash, as well as the County Air Ambulance from Cosford, two land ambulances and an incident support officer.

Murray MacGregor, West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman, said the driver complained of back pain and was immobilised using a neck collar and spinal board.

Rail passengers also faced delays today on trains between Shrewsbury and Birmingham after vandals caused damage at Tipton.

Meanwhile, a 48- year-old man was airlifted to the RSH after his motorbike hit a car shortly before 11.40am yesterday at the B4363 and the A4117 junction at Cleobury Mortimer.

Two men were also injured shortly before 3pm yesterday on the A525 at The Chequer, Bronnington, near Whitchurch, when a Ford transit flat bed truck collided with a Porsche car.

The truck driver was airlifted to the Wrexham Maelor hospital with a suspected spinal injury, and the car driver taken by ambulance.

By Kirsty Marston