Lorry driver rescued by Lincolnshire's Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner after Storm Doris wreaks havoc on county roads

A lorry driver who lost control in the strong winds was rescued from his cab '“ by the passing Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire.
The scene of the crash on the B1188 near RuskingtonThe scene of the crash on the B1188 near Ruskington
The scene of the crash on the B1188 near Ruskington

Stuart Tweedale, of Ruskington, who is also the local county councillor, was driving along the B1188 towards Ruskington from Sleaford in his van when he came across the lorry on its side and shedding diesel, as well as its load of straw bales.

Blown over by the strong gusts of Storm Doris, the articulated trailer had also flattened a road sign and street light, says Stuart.

His friend and local letting agent Craig Nairn had also stopped at the scene and, with the cab on its side, the two men could not get the driver out.

The scene of the crash on the B1188 near RuskingtonThe scene of the crash on the B1188 near Ruskington
The scene of the crash on the B1188 near Ruskington

So Craig, who himself was seriously injured and lost a leg in a car crash several years ago, grabbed a hammer from his car and after trying to smash the windscreen passed the hammer to Stuart who proceeded to make a hole big enough before dragging the trucker out and helping him away from the crash scene.

Terrifyingly the pair had unknowingly been standing in leaking fuel the whole time.

Fire services attended and an ambulance was called but cancelled as the driver was not seriously injured.

“I was just doing what any normal person would do and having Craig there made it so much easier to get the driver out,” said Stuart.

Stuart Tweedale. EMN-170224-100154001Stuart Tweedale. EMN-170224-100154001
Stuart Tweedale. EMN-170224-100154001

“You just never know what’s going to happen and I thought that diesel and straw was certainly not a good combination so it was best to get the poor driver out as soon as possible. We didn’t realise we were standing in the fuel as the wind was blowing the smell away.

“We didn’t think about the danger, we just wanted to get the driver out.

“Thankfully I don’t think he was injured but a little shaken by the experience. He was standing in the cab but couldn’t climb out the door window at the top.”

Other drivers stopped to assist afterwards.

The road sign and street light taken out by the falling lorry near Ruskington in Storm Doris. EMN-170224-101933001The road sign and street light taken out by the falling lorry near Ruskington in Storm Doris. EMN-170224-101933001
The road sign and street light taken out by the falling lorry near Ruskington in Storm Doris. EMN-170224-101933001

The road was temporarily closed to allow for recovery of the lorry.

Stuart said that the emergency services did very well in attending so quickly inspite of being inundated with calls due to the storm.