The selfless M4 driver who helped thousands of people avoid major tailbacks

A generous volunteer stepped in to help M4 commuters avoid far lengthier tailbacks after a vehicle fire caused delays. On Wednesday, April 24, a lorry carrying hay caught fire on the motorway between Bath and Bristol, causing a road closure as emergency services attended the scene. The incident caused more than 10 miles of traffic for more than four hours.

Avon Fire & Rescue Service were handling the situation with police support, but with limited equipment to remove the hay and the pressure to reopen a main commuter route, time was crucial. This is when a selfless member of the public stepped in. An officer noticed a vehicle carrying a tele-loader stuck within the traffic.

Without any hesitation, the driver offered to help and drove to the incident to liaise with the fire commander.

The Good Samaritan spent nearly two hours using the tele-loader to remove the hay from the trailer, which gave the fire service the chance to extinguish the fire. He then helped in moving the hay onto the hard shoulder, enabling crews to safely put out the fire and clear the carriageway.

Avon & Somerset roads policing inspector Ashley Rowland said: "It is abundantly clear that, without the help of that member of the public, the fire crews would not have extinguished the fire and made the load safe again in such a timely fashion. His willingness to provide help in a time of obvious emergency helping reopen a lane of traffic, freeing hundreds, if not thousands, of cars and allowed them to continue their journey. "I was under a lot of pressure to get the motorway moving again and I would not have been able to do this so quickly without his help.

We would also like to thank all the motorists who were stuck in the traffic for their patience and understanding while we cleared the carriageway."

References

^ Teachers injured in school stabbing speak out (www.walesonline.co.uk)
^ Arsonists suspected of starting huge hillside fire as pictures show scale of blaze (www.walesonline.co.uk)