A family whose car was involved in a collision with a lorry along the M6 in Lancashire have praised local Highways Agency Traffic Officers for the way they helped them through the ordeal.
Driver Barbara Johnson, daughter Cheryl Knight and 36-year-old Cheryl’s five-year-old son Ethan, were caught up in the drama when they were travelling south along the M6 near Junction 31 at Samlesbury in February.
Their car ended up being spun in the incident, leaving it stuck in the side of the lorry, and facing the oncoming traffic in a ‘live’ lane of the busy motorway during the evening rush hour.Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt but the family were briefly trapped until Highways Agency Traffic Officers from their outstation nearby, as well as police and ambulance crews, arrived on the scene.
With no serious injuries the Highways Agency was left to manage the incident with staff at the Regional Control Centre setting electronic signs to warn other motorway users and the patrols from the Samlesbury outstation towing the two vehicles out of the way to the hard shoulder – getting the motorway fully-open again within the hour.The Traffic Officers were also busy assisting Mrs Johnson and her family who were left shocked but not badly injured.
Barbara, 56, who was driving the family home to Cannock in Staffordshire, said: “From the moment the Highways Officers arrived they were professional, kind and most of all reassuring. I believe they acted well above the call of duty. As my car had been rendered unroadworthy they took us all back to their outstation made us hot drinks, got us warm and then found something on the TV to occupy little Ethan. They gave him games and even dried his wet clothes. One of the officers even gave Ethan a drink of juice from his own lunchbox.”
Barbara, who has also written to thank the North West Ambulance Service, said the Traffic Officers also assisted her in organising recovery of the family’s Ford Fiesta ensuring they all got home safely to Staffordshire.She added: “The most important thing the Highways Agency did was to provide us with reassurance after a horrendous experience. We cannot thank them enough. I felt compelled to write to them as I believe these officers acted above and beyond the call of duty. We will always be grateful to them.”
