POLICE AND COMMUNITY RALLY TO HELP STRANDED HGV DRIVER AT TWYFORD ROAD RAILWAY BRIDGE

POLICE AND COMMUNITY RALLY TO HELP STRANDED HGV DRIVER AT TWYFORD ROAD RAILWAY BRIDGE

An over-height vehicle was stranded in a South Derbyshire village, after its driver followed satellite navigation and came face-to-face with a railway bridge on Twyford Road, Willington, yesterday (Friday 6 November).

The professional motorist was unable to continue and was forced to complete a tricky and carefully managed U-turn to get the vehicle turned around safely.

Thankfully, the driver was supported by kind-hearted local residents, who stepped in to help guide the manoeuvre, while a lovely member of staff from a nearby public house showed genuine empathy and understanding for the driver's situation.

Your Safer Neighbourhood Team also attended the scene to assist with traffic management and help get the HGV safely back on track.

Unfortunately, the situation was not helped by several aggressive and impatient motorists who sounded their horns, expressing umbrage and making unhelpful comments in the direction of the HGV driver, as he tried to resolve the problem safely.

It is disappointing that this incident happened in the first place, but even more disappointing that the actions of a few motorists made an already stressful situation much worse.

Police regularly attend incidents at both the Twyford Road railway bridge and its sister bridge on Repton Road, near the local Co-op store. Sadly, these incidents are becoming increasingly frequent, with bridge strikes, damage to infrastructure, and subsequent road closures often taking many hours to resolve.

However, the kindness shown by local people was a welcome reminder that community spirit remains alive and well.