Mother & 3 y.o. survive truck accident
Published: September 26, 2003
A MOTHER and her three-year-old daughter had a “miraculous” escape after their vehicle was dragged under the trailer of a 44-tonne lorry that jack-knifed and careered sideways across both carriageways of the M25 at Theydon Garnon.
The drama unfolded at about 2.45pm on Monday in heavy rain on the clockwise carriageway at the M11 interchange (junction 27).
The lorry collided with a van then crossed the central reservation and collided with a silver Ford Galaxy.
Firefighters from Loughton, Waltham Abbey and Harlow were called out.
Acting Loughton sub-officer Dave Barnard said: “When we got there and saw what had happened I was expecting the worst. The lorry had dragged the Galaxy underneath it as it went up against the central reservation. It came to rest across both carriageways. How we didn’t have carnage on that motorway I will never know.”
The woman, aged about 35, escaped with a minor cut to her arm and shock. Her daughter escaped unhurt.
Mr Barnard said it was a “miracle” the child was uninjured when the Galaxy collapsed around the driver without injuring her.
Emergency medical staff were flown to the scene by Essex Air Ambulance as firefighters spent about an hour cutting the woman free. Because the lorry trailer was on top of the Galaxy, firefighters had to use a fork lift truck stored on the rescue tender to take the weight of the lorry and prevent it from crashing down on the woman.
Mr Barnard added: “It was a very complicated operation. The paramedics removed the child and we spoke to the woman and explained what we were going to do. She was extremely calm, which probably aided us in getting her out.
“It was a massive team effort between firefighters and paramedics working with doctors. It’s a miracle she came out alive.”
The mother and daughter were flown to Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow. Traffic congestion built up around the area, with queues forming as far away as Ongar High Street and the A414.
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