Police bid to stop ‘wrong way’ drive on M65 after Barrowford woman's crash (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Police bid to stop ‘wrong way’ drive on M65 after Barrowford woman's crash

10:09am Wednesday 17th June 2009 in

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POLICE are looking at whether any action can be taken to prevent further motorists driving the wrong way down the M65.

It comes after June Murray, 78, of Bankhouse Street, Barrowford, was left seriously ill after crashing head-on into a Honda Estate.

Police said Mrs Murray was travelling the wrong way on the westbound carriageway in her Vauxhall Corsa when the crash happened between junction 12 at Nelson and 13 at Barrowford at 11.30am on Monday.

The driver of the other car, Robert Nuttall, 52, of Gisburn Road, Barrowford, was admitted to hospital, but he was later discharged with minor injuries.

Inspector Phil Cottam, head of the police’s Motorway Unit, said they thought Mrs Murray may have gone the wrong way up the exit slip road to get onto the motorway.

He said: "It would appear the car may have come on to the motorway at Junction 12 by B&Q.

"And we are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the way she got on to the wrong carriageway.

"I realise that witnessing this incident will have been a traumatic experi-ence for the people involved, but it would be helpful to hear from any member of the public who witnessed how the car got on to the wrong carriage-way of the motorway."

Inspector Cottam said that, based on the evidence they collected, the police would work with the Highways Authority to see how the access could be ‘upgraded’ to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Mrs Murray was trapped in her car, suffering from serious arm injuries, fractured ribs and internal injuries as well as shock.

She was transferred to the Royal Blackburn Hospital by the air ambulance which landed on the motorway.

Police said that she was stable and able to talk to members of her family in hospital yesterday.

Neighbours of Mrs Murray wished the “frien-dly” grandmother a speedy recovery.

One of Mrs Murray’s neighbours, in Bankhouse Street, said: “She is a lovely woman and very friendly – we often have a chat outside the house.

“Her husband died a couple of years ago but she’s has an active social life and goes out driving a lot. She goes crown green bowling.”