Firearms officers deployed to tackle two and a half ton army truck
An army truck which broke through a police blockade on Sunday continued to crash into cars as police gave chase in hot pursuit.
The vehicle, which is now known to be a RIO 35, a two and a half ton US Army truck, caused “at least” £80,000 worth of damage to police vehicles when it smashed through a barricade in Norton Fitzwarren.
Nine vehicles were left damaged by a rampage which carried on from the town with police in pursuit (Tindle )
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The RIO M35 military cargo truck was first introduced in 1950. M35 series vehicles were still in use during the 2003 invasion of Iraq where they saw action. Capable of a top speed of 56 mph, the versatile vehicle has since come into use by dozens of militaries across the world.
The 41-year-old driver of the vehicle was arrested for the attempted murder of a woman police officer, after almost hitting her as it crashed through a blockade. An eyewitness to the event told The Wellington Weekly of how the officer ‘narrowly escaped’ by jumping into a coach house parking bay.
The two and a half ton truck left deviation in its wake (Tindle )
A number of assets, including the police helicopter and armed officers were deployed to the incident, which culminated in the driver exiting the vehicle at an M5 overbridge.
Police have confirmed that officers pursued the truck between Norton and the overbridge, when the truck continued to collide with other vehicles as the driver attempted to make his escape.
The motorway was closed in both directions as the suspect clambered over the railings. Quick thinking lorry drivers staged an urgent intervention, and parked their vehicles below him, swift action which was praised by the police for ‘assisting a person in crisis.’
Dramatic scenes unfolded on an M5 overpass as police closed in on the suspect who had climbed the barriers (NPAS)
On Monday evidence of the rampage remained clear to see in Norton, where a number of damaged vehicles were seen parked by the roadside. A front garden wall had been completely destroyed, with various debris cleared from the highway.
Residents expressed their shock at the event, which rocked the ‘ordinarily quiet’ community.
The driver remains in police custody and has not been charged at this time.