Lorry driver in hospital with possible life-changing injuries after A42 crash

A lorry driver is in hospital with potentially life-changing injuries after a serious crash on the A42, near Ashby. Traffic was stopped in both directions[1] shortly after 11am. Leicestershire Police was called to the carriageway near junction A14 where two lorries had collided.

One of the lorries also smashed into the central reservation. The fire service was called as one of the drivers became trapped in the cab of his lorry. A spokesperson for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS)[2] said three crews were deployed to the scene at 11.10pm and devised a rescue plan.

An air ambulance landed on the opposite side of the carriageway while traffic was halted. Meanwhile, miles of queues built up in both directions[4] leading to long delays into the afternoon. A police spokesperson said: "A driver of one of the lorries was taken to hospital by the East Midlands Ambulance Service (Emas)[5].

He is believed to have suffered possible life-changing injuries. The driver of the other vehicle was not injured." The A42 was fully closed until 2.10pm with the northbound reopening last, shortly after 3pm.

Leicestershire Police is appealing for anyone with information or dashcam footage of the incident to report online at www.leics.police.uk or call 101, quoting incident number 216 of today.

Get the latest traffic news from our sister site In Your Area[6]

References

1. ^ stopped in both directions (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
2. ^ Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
3. ^ Stretch of M1 in Leicestershire earmarked for smart motorway upgrade (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
4. ^ queues built up in both directions (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
5. ^ East Midlands Ambulance Service (Emas) (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
6. ^ Get the latest traffic news from our sister site In Your Area (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)