Overturned skip on A27 causes nine hours of chaos (From The Argus)
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Overturned skip on A27 causes nine hours of chaos
8:00am Monday 7th January 2013 in News By Kimberly Middleton, Acting chief reporter
SUSSEX’S busiest road was closed for nine hours yesterday (Jan 6), causing delays for thousands of drivers.
The A27 was still closed after a skip lorry toppled over near Arundel, blocking the road in both directions.
Highway workers had to carry out emergency repairs after the Tarmac was severely damaged by the accident.
But first the mud and wood debris being carried by the skip had to be taken away, the lorry recovered and the road cleared.
Work went on into the evening as the Highways Agency repaired the road, which reopened at about 8pm.
An eight-mile diversion away from Sussex’s busiest road, used by up to 250,000 vehicles a day, caused traffic chaos in the area.
There were stretches of traffic from the accident spot back as far as Poling, as well as stretching south to Lyminster and Ford.
Drivers queued for up to 30 minutes westbound towards the closed stretch of road and police reported tailbacks of up to two miles.
The route between Causeway Roundabout and the Crossbush junction, outside Arundel Railway Station, was closed as the overturned skip blocked the route in both directions.
The skip lorry crashed into cars travelling eastbound at about 11.15am yesterday, but remarkably no one was seriously injured.
The male driver of the lorry escaped with only minor injuries.
An elderly couple whose car was involved in the accident sought refuge inside a passing Good Samaritan’s car.
But when emergency services arrived a short while later, they had to be cut free from the unaffected vehicle because of paramedics’ concerns about the pair’s severe back pain.
A spokesman from Southern Rail said that although the road was closed outside the station, customers could still access it from the west.
Two fire crews from Littlehampton and a heavy rescue tender from Worthing were at the scene until 1.15pm.
They said the skip appeared to have overturned at the top of the hill near the Crossbush Inn and slid down the road, hitting several other vehicles on the way.
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Comments(18)
itsnotme
says...
8:43am Mon 7 Jan 13
Sussex jim
says...
8:59am Mon 7 Jan 13
What's happened to the good old English bobby?
Angryoldman
says...
9:09am Mon 7 Jan 13
Grr. Why don't people drive more carefully?
davyboy
says...
11:42am Mon 7 Jan 13
Angryoldman wrote:fair comment, and wholly appropriate. skip lorries tend to be top heavy, and the driver may have no idea what is in the load. having said that, he should be aware after just a short distance how his vehicle is handling, and drive as required.
This road is closed more than it is open.
Grr. Why don't people drive more carefully?
Crystal Ball
says...
11:52am Mon 7 Jan 13
John Steed
says...
12:11pm Mon 7 Jan 13
Angryoldman wrote:getting the a27 arundle bypass section constructed would solve the problem permanantly,
This road is closed more than it is open.
Grr. Why don't people drive more carefully?
Q what do you call a convertable skoda?
A a skip
ukkml0904
says...
12:29pm Mon 7 Jan 13
paul76
says...
1:49pm Mon 7 Jan 13
I hope they don't have to claim that on their own insurance. Would be interesting for the Argus to follow up and see how they claim so other good samaritan’s don't fall into the same situation and end up with their car in two.
Mr B. Humbug
says...
2:00pm Mon 7 Jan 13
sussexram40
says...
2:31pm Mon 7 Jan 13
Maybe the uniform for male PCs should be changed to a mini dress and frilly blouse. The rude, aggressive ones would be a lot more subservient and polite then!
sussexram40
says...
2:33pm Mon 7 Jan 13
Wivvy Dave
says...
6:42pm Mon 7 Jan 13
Turn your volume on and you'll clearly hear the Birdie Song. They can even walk to the rythem - surely you've seen them in east Brighton.
namgo49
says...
7:23pm Mon 7 Jan 13
paul76 wrote:This was going to be my point.
The poor people doing their good deed for the day have to walk home with their car in two pieces. Gutted.
I hope they don't have to claim that on their own insurance. Would be interesting for the Argus to follow up and see how they claim so other good samaritan’s don't fall into the same situation and end up with their car in two.
The old thing about does it pay to be a good samaritan!!
Mr Sworld
says...
7:28pm Mon 7 Jan 13
Crystal Ball wrote:I think they got left behind in the 90's.
Where are the jokes comparing a skip to a Skoda?
If i'm correct Skoda's are made by VW now and are highly reliable. A lot of taxi drivers own them which must be a good relection for the car.
Dave At Home
says...
8:50pm Mon 7 Jan 13
ukkml0904 wrote:...and that is what I was thinking!!!! surely if they were well enough to escape from their own crushed (I presume) car then why could they not get out of the other car? Seems like trumpton needed another car to practice on... would love a follow up on this story, how about an interview with the good Samaritan?
Luckily no-one was seriously hurt in this accident. However, has anyone thought about the innocent motorist who offered their car as santuary for the elderly couple who had been involved ..... having to be cut free from a vehicle not involved in the original incident ? How will that be explained to their insurance company ??
Grumpy0ldman
says...
10:16pm Mon 7 Jan 13
Grumpy0ldman
says...
10:16pm Mon 7 Jan 13
The Wolfie says...
8:16am Mon 7 Jan 13
Are they not allowed to put their hands in their pockets?
Do they not have pockets?
Is it some macho thing?