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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Van crashes through bridge on to M42 in West Midlands | Van crashes through bridge on to M42 in West Midlands |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A van has crashed through a bridge above the M42 in the West Midlands and landed on the motorway below, colliding with several vehicles. | A van has crashed through a bridge above the M42 in the West Midlands and landed on the motorway below, colliding with several vehicles. |
| The crash happened at 13:45 GMT, between junctions seven and six southbound. The van struck a lorry, another van and a car. | |
| The van driver suffered "significant" injuries and was taken to University Hospital in Coventry. | The van driver suffered "significant" injuries and was taken to University Hospital in Coventry. |
| The M42 was closed after the crash but two northbound lanes have reopened. | |
| A barrier has also been removed to allow traffic on the southbound carriageways to get on to the M42 northbound. | A barrier has also been removed to allow traffic on the southbound carriageways to get on to the M42 northbound. |
| The van came off the A452 bridge on to the motorway between junction seven, where the M42 and M6 meet, and junction six, Birmingham Airport. | The van came off the A452 bridge on to the motorway between junction seven, where the M42 and M6 meet, and junction six, Birmingham Airport. |
| 'Completely demolished' | 'Completely demolished' |
| The southbound entry slip road at junction seven is not expected to reopen until 20:00 GMT and motorists are currently being advised by the Highways Agency to avoid the area. | The southbound entry slip road at junction seven is not expected to reopen until 20:00 GMT and motorists are currently being advised by the Highways Agency to avoid the area. |
| A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said the van had fallen about 30ft (9.1m) from the bridge above the motorway. | A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said the van had fallen about 30ft (9.1m) from the bridge above the motorway. |
| She said: "The driver of the van, a man in his 20s, was lying on the carriageway and being cared for by bystanders. He had suffered significant head and abdominal injuries. | She said: "The driver of the van, a man in his 20s, was lying on the carriageway and being cared for by bystanders. He had suffered significant head and abdominal injuries. |
| "Due to the nature of the man's injuries, the doctors decided to anaesthetise him on scene to help stabilise his serious condition. | "Due to the nature of the man's injuries, the doctors decided to anaesthetise him on scene to help stabilise his serious condition. |
| "The medics and crews worked as a team to deliver emergency treatment before immobilising the man with a neck collar and spinal board. | "The medics and crews worked as a team to deliver emergency treatment before immobilising the man with a neck collar and spinal board. |
| "Two men from the lorry suffered from the effects of shock and minor injuries and a man from the car suffered back pain in the collision. | "Two men from the lorry suffered from the effects of shock and minor injuries and a man from the car suffered back pain in the collision. |
| "All three were checked over by ambulance staff and a medic but did not require hospital treatment." | "All three were checked over by ambulance staff and a medic but did not require hospital treatment." |
| Kim Yeomans, who was travelling on the M42, said: "The only thing that's left of this truck is half of the cab. The rest of it's completely demolished." | Kim Yeomans, who was travelling on the M42, said: "The only thing that's left of this truck is half of the cab. The rest of it's completely demolished." |