Driver ends up trapped inside an overturned lorry in a crash

The crash

Devon and Somerset fire control and rescue services received a call from the Avon and Somerset police requesting their attendance to a Road Traffic Collision involving a lorry that had overturned on the A361 near to Frome on December 28. Fire crews mobilised fire appliances from Frome, Warminster and Trowbridge. They also mobilised a Heavy Rescue Vehicle, a supporting officer and supporting appliance from Glastonbury.

Road closures were also put in place to allow the emergency services to safely extricate the driver. Upon arrival, the Somerset crews confirmed that one bulk lorry rolled over on the carriageway and the driver was still trapped inside. Fire crews attempted to remove a windscreen to allow the South West ambulance services to access the driver but due to limited space, the ambulance also requested that the roof to the lorry was removed for better working space and room for extrication.

In the end, crews removed the windscreen using small tools and hydraulic rescue cutting equipment and they used hydraulic rescue equipment to remove the roof, and the driver was extricated from the lorry on a stretcher and is now in the care of the ambulance service.

Response from the authorities

Today (December 30) a spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said: "We were called at 07:07hrs on Saturday, December 28 to a road traffic collision near Frome. We sent one double-crewed land ambulance, an operations officer, and a critical care car to the scene. We conveyed one patient by land ambulance to Royal United Hospital Bath."

The road has since reopened and the incident has been left in the hands of the police who have commented today (December 30) about the incident. "We were called at just after 7am on Saturday, December 28, after a lorry mounted a roundabout on the A361 near Frome and overturned. The driver was taken to hospital to be treated for injuries, which were not life-threatening or life-changing.

"Road closures were put in place following the incident to allow emergency services to respond and for the vehicle to be safely recovered.

"Our enquiries into this incident are ongoing.

If anyone witnessed this incident, or has any relevant dashcam or other footage, please call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5224412269."