Dozens injured as more than 100 vehicles crash in bridge pile-up
A 100-vehicle pile-up on a bridge in heavy fog has left at least six people seriously injured and 200 suffering minor wounds in what witnesses described as "carnage".
The London bound carriageway of
the Sheppey Bridge Crossing near Sheerness in Kent following a multi vehicle
collision Photo: Gareth
Fuller/PA
The crash, which occurred on the new Sheppey crossing bridge on the A249 in
Kent early this morning, reportedly went on for 10 minutes as cars continuously
collided with each other.
The scene on the bridge was a mass of tangled cars, lorries and even a car
transporter as one witness said "all you could hear was cars crashing".
The witness described "cars in the air, cars under lorries" and "people
laying on the floor".
There are reports of six serious injuries and 200 minor injuries, police
said, and five people had to be freed from their vehicles by firefighters using
hydraulic cutting equipment.
The accident, which happened at 7.15am, is thought to have occurred in thick
fog, with some witnesses saying that visibility was down to 20 yards in places.
A Kent Police spokeswoman said visibility was a problem over the bridge, but it was not clear whether that caused the pile-up.
(Joe Ford)
Witness Martin Stammers, 45, from Minster, said: "It's horrific. I've never seen anything like it in my life.
"All you could hear was cars crashing. We got out of our car and it was eerily quiet, with visibility down to just 20 yards.
He added: "I was very, very, lucky. I was the last car out of it, if you like. As I come to the top of the hill, there were about five cars already smashed up, one was across my carriageway. I had to hit my brakes hard as well, I just had enough space to get through.
"From then on, all you could hear was the screeching of car tyres and the thudding, which was endless. It must have been going on for five to 10 minutes. You could hear hear the screeching, you could hear the lorries thudding into cars, you could hear glass breaking, there was nothing we could do.
"Even after the police turned up, you still heard further down the bridge - a quarter of a mile, half a mile away - cars still going into the back of each other.
"As you went further up, there were cars in the air, there were cars under lorries, there were people laying on the floor, it was just horrendous".
Seven fire engines were also at the scene and motorists were warned to avoid the crossing, which connects the Isle of Sheppey with mainland Kent.
Another witness told the BBC visibility was very poor but drivers were approaching the crossing with no lights.
Casualties sit
beside the roadside after the accident on the A249 (Gary Jeal)
The £100m four-lane crossing opened in 2006.
"Kent Police was called at about 7.15am on Thursday September 5 to the London-bound carriageway on the Sheppey crossing," a force spokesman said.
"It has been reported there were collisions at the top of the crossing and at the foot of the approach to the crossing. Emergency services are currently at the scene dealing with the incident.
"At this stage it is unknown exactly how many vehicles are involved, but early reports suggest more than 100 vehicles. There are reports of six serious injuries and 200 minor injuries.
"Officers are urging motorists to avoid the area but if a journey to the island is essential, the old Kingsferry Bridge remains open but expect long delays.
"The road remains closed at Cowstead Corner on the island and motorists are being directed on to the Kingsferry Bridge, while the road is closed at the Iwade turn-off and vehicles directed through the village on to the old A249."
Kent Fire and Rescue Service said there were no fatalities but ambulance crews were dealing with a large number of walking wounded.
A spokesman said: "Crews are currently at the scene of a serious RTC (road traffic collision) involving up to 100 vehicles.
"There are no fatalities but ambulance crews are dealing with a large number of walking wounded casualties. Firefighters have used hydraulic cutting equipment to release five people from their vehicles.
"Crews are currently at the scene of a serious crash on the New Kingsferry Bridge (A249) in Sheppey involving multiple vehicles. Kent Police and a number of SECAmb (South East Coast Ambulance Service) ambulances are also in attendance. More information to follow."
A Kent Police spokeswoman said visibility was a problem over the bridge, but it was not clear whether that caused the pile-up.
(Joe Ford)
Witness Martin Stammers, 45, from Minster, said: "It's horrific. I've never seen anything like it in my life.
"All you could hear was cars crashing. We got out of our car and it was eerily quiet, with visibility down to just 20 yards.
He added: "I was very, very, lucky. I was the last car out of it, if you like. As I come to the top of the hill, there were about five cars already smashed up, one was across my carriageway. I had to hit my brakes hard as well, I just had enough space to get through.
"From then on, all you could hear was the screeching of car tyres and the thudding, which was endless. It must have been going on for five to 10 minutes. You could hear hear the screeching, you could hear the lorries thudding into cars, you could hear glass breaking, there was nothing we could do.
"Even after the police turned up, you still heard further down the bridge - a quarter of a mile, half a mile away - cars still going into the back of each other.
"As you went further up, there were cars in the air, there were cars under lorries, there were people laying on the floor, it was just horrendous".
Seven fire engines were also at the scene and motorists were warned to avoid the crossing, which connects the Isle of Sheppey with mainland Kent.
Another witness told the BBC visibility was very poor but drivers were approaching the crossing with no lights.
Casualties sit
beside the roadside after the accident on the A249 (Gary Jeal) The £100m four-lane crossing opened in 2006.
"Kent Police was called at about 7.15am on Thursday September 5 to the London-bound carriageway on the Sheppey crossing," a force spokesman said.
"It has been reported there were collisions at the top of the crossing and at the foot of the approach to the crossing. Emergency services are currently at the scene dealing with the incident.
"At this stage it is unknown exactly how many vehicles are involved, but early reports suggest more than 100 vehicles. There are reports of six serious injuries and 200 minor injuries.
"Officers are urging motorists to avoid the area but if a journey to the island is essential, the old Kingsferry Bridge remains open but expect long delays.
"The road remains closed at Cowstead Corner on the island and motorists are being directed on to the Kingsferry Bridge, while the road is closed at the Iwade turn-off and vehicles directed through the village on to the old A249."
Kent Fire and Rescue Service said there were no fatalities but ambulance crews were dealing with a large number of walking wounded.
A spokesman said: "Crews are currently at the scene of a serious RTC (road traffic collision) involving up to 100 vehicles.
"There are no fatalities but ambulance crews are dealing with a large number of walking wounded casualties. Firefighters have used hydraulic cutting equipment to release five people from their vehicles.
"Crews are currently at the scene of a serious crash on the New Kingsferry Bridge (A249) in Sheppey involving multiple vehicles. Kent Police and a number of SECAmb (South East Coast Ambulance Service) ambulances are also in attendance. More information to follow."
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