Lorry driver dies in Oswestry town centre freak accident
A lorry driver died today in what was apparently a freak accident as he made a delivery to a Shropshire Argos store.
It is believed a foreign object may have entered the cab of his lorry as it was passing through the streets of Oswestry town centre.
The man became trapped and died despite the best efforts of passers-by and paramedics who rushed to try to help the man when the accident happened just before 7am.
The driver is believed to have been delivering to the town's Argos store when he became trapped in his seat. It is unclear if he had been involved in a crash or if a foreign object had entered the cab.
Distraught members of the public tried to free him while ringing 999. But West Midlands Ambulance Service said nothing could be done to save him.
Emergency services went to the scene at the entrance to the Smithfield car park between Argos and the Memorial Hall.
Officers closed Smithfield Road near the centre of the town in both directions between the Smithfield Street junction and the Roft Street junction close to the English Walls.
The road was expected to be closed for the much of the day while investigations were carried out.
Two fire engines from Oswestry were sent to the scene and were joined by both police and the ambulance service.
Police diverting rush hour traffic around the town while firefighters began the task of trying to free the man..
Sergeant Lee Johnson, from West Mercia Police, said: "We have had to close local roads while investigations are ongoing and this could take a number of hours.
"We can only apologise for any inconvenience caused."
Both the Marks and Spencer and Argos stores in the town were closed for a time.
Steve Parry, a spokesman for the West Midlands Ambulance Service, said: "We had two ambulances and an officer at the scene.
"Crews were alerted to a single vehicle incident in Smithfield Road.
"Despite the efforts of medics, it became apparent to crews that nothing could be done to save a man who was confirmed dead at the scene."
Randalf Scott, who runs Scotty's Cafe on the English Walls close to where the crash happened, said: "I could see that the road was closed and I could see fire engines and ambulance there.
"I couldn't actually see what has happened but there were police there diverting the traffic."
