Terrifying moment driver smashes into wheelie bin on A50 caught …

05/04/2023

A prison officer was left with no time to react as he crashed into a wheelie bin in the middle of the A50 ^[1] in Stoke-on-Trent.

Simon Russell says the bin came ‘flying out of nowhere’ as he overtook a lorry on the eastbound side of the dual carriageway in the early hours of the morning.

The 50-year-old initially had no idea what he had hit as he made his way from Blythe Bridge to Uttoxeter before safely pulling over and checking his dashcam. The footage shows the grey bin lying in the middle of the road before flinging to the left on impact.

As a result, Simon’s red Ford Focus sustained significant damage to the bumper and bonnet. He has been unable to trace the source of the bin and is now having to make a claim through his insurers.

Simon, from Stoke-on-Trent, who had been on his way to work, said: “It was about a mile down the A50 after it turns into the dual carriageway, I was overtaking a lorry and a van in front of me moved back into the left-hand lane. Then this wheelie bin came from nowhere.

“There are no lights and it’s pitch black so I didn’t see what it was initially. Looking at the footage, there was no chance for me to avoid the object. After leaving, I saw a driver securing his load of wheelie bins further along the A50 near JCB.

“I phoned the police after I spoke to the manager who said she also swerved something on her drive too. I have informed the insurance company.”

Simon said the damage to the vehicle was ‘mainly cosmetic’ but described being ‘frustrated’ by the whole incident.

He added: “I didn’t have time to panic. It’s not an old car, it’s a 16 plate Focus. I’m ok, other than the fact that I am missing a couple of days from work. All I can do now is wait for the insurance.

“I’m annoyed. There was a serious health and safety issue. Thankfully it only damaged my car. There were no markings on the bin so I do not know where that has come from.”

Staffordshire Police have confirmed it was notified and say no injuries were sustained in the collision.

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