Lorry stuck under bridge causes Gatwick traffic chaos
01.07.09
A lorry driver wedged his vehicle underneath a a passenger bridge in the South Terminal at Gatwick yesterday morning, causing rush hour traffic chaos for passengers and staff, the Crawley Advertiser reports. Drivers using the A23 around the airport were diverted either towards the motorway or Manor Royal while the road was closed for two hours as rescuers attempted to free the stricken HGV.
The driver was on his way to drop off material at the airport before the incident. Andy Kerslake, production manager for Bristol-based fencing manufacturer McArthur who own the lorry, said there were no height restriction signs for the bridge. He said: ‘The lorry just got stuck under the bridge. Our driver said there wasn't any height restrictions before the bridge. He entered it with caution but because the bridge dips a few inches in the middle he got stuck. We don't blame him at all.’
Fire and rescue crews from Horley and Crawley attended the scene shortly after the call at around 08:10. They tried to free the lorry by letting air out of the tires but it was unsuccessful. A Gatwick Police spokeswoman said: ‘A lorry had got stuck under a bridge near the South Terminal. This led to road closures and a build up of traffic. The lorry was lowered by removing the hydraulic fuel - the lorry was cleared from the tunnel at 10.05am and the road was reopened at 10:10am’
Add to: del.icio.us | Digg it | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
To book gatwick airport hotel or gatwick airport car park at the lowest price, click on these links to two great gatwick parking and gatwick hotels price comparison pages.
