Kent: 200 injured in crashes on Isle of Sheppey road bridge
A general view of the scene on the London bound carriageway of the Sheppey Bridge Crossing near Sheerness in Kent following a multi vehicle collision earlier this morning. - Credit: PA
More than 200 people have been injured today in a massive pile-up on a bridge in thick fog.
Casualties are treated at the scene. - Credit: PA
Police said the crashes involved more than 100 vehicles, and at least eight people have been seriously injured.
Crashed vehicles on the Sheppey bridge. - Credit: PA
Witnesses described the situation on the new Sheppey crossing bridge in Kent as “carnage”.
The crashes began around 7.15am and continued for 10 minutes as cars and lorries crashed into each other in visibility that was down to 20 yards.
Lives were probably saved because an unidentified quick-thinking lorry driver used his truck to block the entrance to the bridge on the A249 and stop more cars piling into the crash.
A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “There are no fatalities but ambulance crews are dealing with a large number of walking wounded casualties. Firefighters have used hydraulic cutting equipment to release five people from their vehicles.”
Kent Police said there were collisions at the top of the bridge and at the foot of the approach to it.
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A spokesman said: “Officers are urging motorists to avoid the area but if a journey to the Isle of Sheppey is essential, the old Kingsferry Bridge remains open but expect long delays.”
