Burnley woman hit by car on M65 'conscious' (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Burnley woman hit by car on M65 'conscious'

12:20pm Friday 10th September 2010 in

By Jon Livesey » Reporter

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THE Burnley woman hit by a car as she walked on the M65 on Saturday has regained consciousness.

But police said the 44-year-old, who was struck by a Toyota Avensis near junction 10, Burnley,remained in a critical but stable condition in Royal Preston Hospital’s intensive care department.

Officers have dismissed rumours that the woman had fallen, or been pushed from the bridge next to the Gannow Top roundabout.

They insisted that investigations suggested the woman had walked onto the motorway at around 3pm.

Several other vehicles had to swerve to avoid her during the incident and a section of the motorway was closed for three hours.

Police are investigating how and why she apparently either walked down the slip road to get to the motorway or a nearby embankment.

Following the collision the woman was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital by the North West Air Ambulance, which landed on the motorway in view of a crowd of people at the Gannow Top roundabout.

Inspector Mark Baines said: “Investigations suggest that she was a pedestrian on the motorway, but for what reason we do not yet know."

In the aftermath of the incident traffic chaos ensued as junctions 10, 12, 13 and 14 were closed.

The eastbound carriageway was reopened at around 4.10 pm along with junctions 12, 13 and 14 of the westbound carriageway.

But the road around junction 10 remained closed until after 6pm while the investigation into the accident took place.

Hundreds of motorists were forced to find alternative routes at the busiest time of the day.

Grace Coleman, a resident in Plover View for 14 years, said: “I thought there was a football match going on because it was about the right time of day.

“But then they landed the helicopter on the motorway and they weren’t letting any traffic through at all, so I knew something was up.”

Another eyewitness, who asked not to be named, said: “It was sheer pandemonium.

“The bridge was lined with police cars and it was three deep with people looking down onto the motorway at the air ambulance.

“You could see the drivers of the vehicles involved looking shocked as they sat on the embankment, being tended to by paramedics.

“There was traffic chaos as people were trying to find alternative routes to get wherever they were going.

“My thoughts go to this lady and her family.”

Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle described the incident as ‘tragic’ and said he sympathised with the driver whose vehicle hit the woman.

He said: “It must have been horrendous for the driver. When you’re doing whatever speed - 65mph or 70mph - you don’t expect to see a pedestrian walking in front of you.

“It must have been a horrific experience and I’m sure it will be hard to get over.

“I also hope this woman makes a full recovery.”

Burnley Council Leader Charlie Briggs also said his ‘heart went out’ to the driver.

He said: “It’s hard to comment without knowing what her mindset was. Was she trying to kill herself or did she not realise she was on the motorway?”

Anyone with information about the incident should call Motorway Police on 01772 410465 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Comments(19)

mavrick says...
5:49pm Sat 4 Sep 10

I hope the injuries are not too serious.
I understand there needs to be an investigation. why do they have to close the motorway for so long after the people have been moved?
on the continent incidents like this usualy take about an hour to sort out and the road reopened. but not in britain, why? I wonder if we were paying road tolls would the delays be the same?