A woman was hurt in Birmingham as a lorry struck a railway bridge twice in one day, causing chaos for rail and road users.
Birmingham: A woman got injured when a lorry crashed into a railway bridge for the second time in just hours. This was the fourth time it happened in two months!
The incident took place on Summer Road in Erdington. It all started on Tuesday, January 7, when the first lorry hit the bridge around 10 am. This caused a big mess for trains on the busy Cross City Line.
Trains from Birmingham New Street to Erdington, Sutton Coldfield, and Lichfield were halted for about an hour. The driver of that first lorry didn’t even stop, which is just wild!
After the bridge was checked, services resumed around 11 am. But then, just after noon, another lorry hit the same bridge, and this time it was a much harder impact. The roof of the trailer got sheared off!
Sadly, a woman was hurt by debris from the crash and had to be taken to the hospital. The lorry driver was checked out too but only had a minor injury.
West Midlands Ambulance Service got the call at 12:12 pm. They sent an ambulance and a paramedic officer to help out. The woman received treatment on the scene before being taken to Good Hope Hospital for more checks.
After both crashes, National Express West Midlands started accepting rail tickets on bus services between Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield. Traffic around Erdington town center was a nightmare, especially near Six Ways and Sutton New Road, as drivers tried to avoid Summer Road.
Emergency services, including West Midlands Police and Fire Service, were on the scene. They were there to help with any structural damage to the bridge.
Despite having low bridge signs and warnings, these strikes keep happening. Network Rail is urging drivers to be aware of their vehicle heights. Martin Colmey from Network Rail said there’s no excuse for hitting a bridge, especially when it’s clearly marked.
He’s asking all drivers to know their vehicle restrictions and to take alternative routes if they’re unsure about fitting under a bridge. It’s just common sense!
