Highways officer injured in M6 hit-and-run (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Highways officer injured in M6 hit-and-run

2:21pm Wednesday 27th June 2012 in Chorley

A HIGHWAYS officer was left injured in a hit-and-run incident on the hard shoulder of the M6 in Lancashire, police have now revealed.

The official was assisting with a temporary closure, near junction 29, when he was clipped by a small white van, driving along the hard shoulder.

Traffic police say the van then drove off, without stopping, towards the junction, the turn-off for the M65 to East Lancashire and Bamber Bridge and Preston, in the opposite direction.

The official was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital for treatment, for a neck injury, and later released. Workmen had been filling in a small hole on the motorway.

Pc Stuart Rawsthorne, who is investigating the incident, said: “This incident occurred on a busy motorway and is highly likely to have been witnessed by passing motorists.

“We would urge anyone who knows the whereabouts of this van and its driver or who saw the collision to contact us as soon as possible. The traffic officer, who was simply carrying out his duties, luckily escaped serious injury in the incident.”

Motorists who witnessed the collision or who has any information about the driver should contact Pc Stuart Rawsthorne by calling Lancashire Constabulary on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.