Yobs hurl shopping trolley on to M54 traffic

Two yobs hurled a shopping trolley off a bridge on to the M54 near Telford smashing into two cars and a lorry. The trolley bounced off the lorry before crashing into the front of a car carrying six terrified adults.

Another vehicle was forced to swerve after vandals struck in the early hours of this morning between junction 4 at Shifnal and junction 5 at Telford.

Police condemned the yobs saying the incident could have been far more serious.

Shocked Danni and James Evans, of Grange Road, Ellesmere, were returning from a charity ball in Bristol with four friends when the trolley smashed into their Vauxhall Zafira. They escaped uninjured.

Mrs Evans said: "It was such a shock. It was crazy. They threw the trolley over the top and the HGV took the brunt of it. But because of how high the lorry is, it hit the bumper and he pulled over onto the hard shoulder."

The car in front of them swerved to avoid the trolley but it then smashed into the couple's car.

Mrs Evans said she had been due to drive home but at the last minute her husband had said he would.

"He controlled the car really calmly. I am not sure if my reactions would have been so good. It was horrible. Thankfully our children were not with us.

"I had my eyes shut when it happened and then just saw sparks and the trolley on the front of the car. The trolley was attached to the car and ripped part of the bumper off."

She said they pulled onto the hard shoulder but spotted water draining from under the vehicle.

"We were warned the head gasket could blow so we called breakdown recovery. It was complete idiocy and stupidity which has caused us a whole load of hassle," she added.

Chris Ammonds, spokesman for Telford police, said it appeared two male youths had thrown the trolley onto the carriageway hitting three vehicles.

He said: "It must be obvious to any right-minded person quite how dangerous the actions of these individuals were. It is extremely fortunate the police are not investigating an incident with far more serious consequences."

He said they were appealing for information and any witnesses could call 0300 333 3000 and 0800 555 111.

By Judith Sanders