TWO women have died after a lorry ploughed through the central reservation of a motorway and smashed head-on into a car travelling in the opposite direction.
The pair were killed in the horror crash, which left their vehicle an unrecognisable mangled wreck on the M5 near Frankley, West Midlands, on Friday morning.
The Penton’s Haulage lorry hit the reservation of the motorway so hard that it ripped a stretch of the the central barriers out of the ground and left it trailing on the southbound carriageway.
The truck is believed to have crossed six lanes in total, straying into the path of the oncoming Mercedes.
Ambulance crews raced to the scene and firefighters were also involved in removing casualties from the wreckage of vehicle.
Motorist Nicola Chew, 28, who was stuck in traffic following the incident, said: “The couple wouldn’t have stood a chance, you couldn’t even tell what make the car was afterwards – it was completely obliterated.
“It was horrifying – I never seen an accident so bad in my life.
“I feel for the couple, it was just one of those freak things, they were in the wrong place and the wrong time. I guess you never know when your time is up.”
The motorway was shut in both directions between Junction 3 at Halesowen, West Midlands, and Junction 4 for Bromsgrove, Worcs.
A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “Despite the best efforts of ambulance crews arriving on scene, nothing could be done to save the two casualties and they were confirmed dead shortly after the arrival of the emergency services.”
“The driver of the lorry was found to be trapped in his cab. He was later released with the help of ambulance crews and firefighters, before being treated for arm and neck injuries. He was immobilised using a neck collar and spinal board before being taken to Worcester Hospital for further assessment and treatment”.
A spokesperson for Central Motorway Police Group, said: “At approximately 11.38hours on Friday 13th May 2011, an incident occurred on the southbound carriageway of the M5 motorway between junctions 3 and 4.
“Two vehicles were involved in the collision where the driver and passenger of a Mercedes sadly received fatal injuries. The driver of the other vehicle has been taken to hospital with what is believed to be minor injuries.
“The incident has caused the closure of the north and south bound carriageways in both directions. Police, Fire and ambulance services have attended assisted by officers from the Highways agency.”
Nobody from the Shropshire-based haulage company – who describe themselves as a comprehensive chilled warehousing and distribution service – was available for comment yesterday/today (FRI).
Any witnesses are asked to contact police.
