Man 'on fire' as lorry hits Chatteris power lines

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-35557928

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A man suffered serious burns after being "set on fire" when a tipper truck struck overhead power lines.

Police, fire crews and the air ambulance were called to Block Fen Drove in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, just after 16:00 GMT on Thursday.

A man in his 40s was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge with serious but not life-threatening injuries, Cambridgeshire Police said.

An investigation is being led by the Health and Safety Executive.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said the casualty was out of the vehicle upon arrival. It said the cause was "accidental".

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An eyewitness told the Cambs Times the driver was outside the truck when it struck the cables, adding: "He was thrown back and we thought he was dead. He was on fire. The fire brigade and air ambulance arrived very quickly, within minutes."

A spokesperson for the Magpas Air Ambulance said the victim was in a "serious but stable condition" on arrival at the hospital.

The tipper truck was from Manea-based D & R Hankins Ltd.

A spokesman said: "At this stage the reasons for it are unknown, but we will be investigating the incident."