I HAPPENED to be caught up in the chaos caused by the road accident on Hyndburn Way on Friday, April 16 as I was on my way home from work.

As a result of the accident involving a jack-knifed lorry blocking both lanes of the road onto the roundabout at the junction of the M65, I was trapped in a two lane traffic jam and there was no way out. It looked like a long haul and some motorists decided to cross the central reservation and return the way they came.

One man got his car stuck in the muddy grass and locals were true to form in that one or two cars going the opposite way, slowed down to laugh at him. Nobody got out to help free the car.

Most amazingly, an off duty police officer, pulled up on the opposite side, left his family in the car whilst he ran over to show his ID and inform the man of his crime.

As it turns out, we were shortly instructed by the police to turn our cars round and drive over the central reservation where it was concreted, as the road could not be cleared for some time. Rather than do this in an orderly an safe fashion one at a time, three or four cars were going at once.

The whole incident was typical of society today -- people would rather take their pleasure from other's misfortunes that get satisfaction from helping.

Name supplied, Cornwall Road, Rishton.