UK & World News
- 9 February 2013, 21:38
Driver Killed After Exiting Car On M'way
A driver died when he got out of his car in the middle lane of a motorway and was struck by a number of vehicles.
It happened on the southbound carriageway of the M18 near Doncaster shortly after 7am on Friday.
The 53-year-old, from Gilberdyke, Humberside, was believed to have got out of his blue Ford Focus after it stopped in the middle lane between junction three and two.
A 26-year-old in a green Ford Transit tried to avoid a collision but clipped the Focus, then hit the man, South Yorkshire Police said.
Two lorries collided with the van, then one of the trucks hit the man.
A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said the 53-year-old suffered "fatal injuries" and five people in other vehicles received whiplash.
Update:
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what do you think?
movvi
Mystery! Poor guy - and other drivers, too. Terrible way to go.
Steve Marshall
I feel sorry for the guys that hit him and his car, 1 man's stupidity has changed the lives of them drivers.
blue side
Doe not seem to be stupidity if the car stopped Steve poor bloke had few choices and as for those that hit him, not something I would like
Gordon Wright
Exactly Blue Side, If my car stopped in the middle lane of the motorway, I would want to be out of it very quickly. It seems to me he was in danger if he stayed in the car and just as much danger getting out of it. Not much of a choice it would appear...........
Steve Marshall
A car doesn't just stop.
Steve Marshall
Blue side & Gordon I hope both of you have enough sence not to stop in the middle lane and decide to get out of you car in fast flowing traffic but then again looking at your comments you both probably would.
Gordon Wright
Mr Marshall, In reply to your rather stupid comment regarding cars "not just stopping", I beg to differ. As it happens, something similar happened to my wife some years ago when her car did exactly that on the same motorway. Fortunately, she jsut had enough forward motion to access the hard shoulder. Had she been in either of the two other lanes, she would have had insufficient impetus to get there. That is what the RAC man who attended the breakdown said. As for your other idiotic comment, I would much prefer to make a run for the safety of the shoulder than to sit in my car and wait for the inevitable vehicle smashing into me from behind. Please engage brain before opening mouth..........
Gordon Wright
Further to my last. The sudden loss of power in my wife's vehicle was caused by the low tension lead inside the distributor being severed by the rotor arm. This caused an instantaneous loss of power..........
Name witheld
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
Steve Marshall
Something needs to be done, there is no reason at all to stop in the middle lane also it must have been fast flowing traffic or another 3 vehicles wouldn't have been involved,
gunit1969
so sad for the man, but why mention the whiplash injuries - are we to expect a flood of bogus insurance claims ?
Gordon Wright
Aside from trying to reach the safety of the hard shoulder, he may have been trying to get to one of the emergency phones on the motorway in order to alert the authorities. He may have simply been trying to warn them about his car being where it was. This is surely better than simply sitting in a stationary vehicle in the middle lane of a motorway......
Gordon Wright
Just as a matter of interest, the article states that the accident happened between junction 2 and 3 on the M18 and that the man was in the middle lane. This is somewhat puzzling since between Junction 2 and 3, the M18 is only a two lane highway. It does not become three lanes until it crosses the A! at Junction 2 (Southbound) when it becomes very busy with traffic joining from the A1
Gordon Wright
Sorry, should read A1.......
Gordon Wright
The following is taken from the RAC website and offers advice on what to do in the event of a Motorway breakdown where the driver cannot get to the hard shoulder: What to do if you cannot get your vehicle to the hard shoulder In some circumstances it may not be possible to get your vehicle onto the hard shoulder. When this happens it is important to switch on your hazard warning lights. Exit the vehicle only when it is safe to cross to the hard shoulder and call the police and breakdown services for assistance. Never place any warning objects in the carriageway in front of or behind the vehicle. Hopefully this may help others who may be caught in the same situation as this unfortunate man. To read the full article, check out the address below: <a href="http://www.breakdowncover.co.uk/faq/breakdown-advice-for-motorway-drivers.htm" rel='nofollow'>http://www.breakdowncover.co.uk/faq/breakdown-advice-for-motorway-drivers.htm</a>
Martin Peacock
I speak from personal experience as much the same thing happened to me about 1990-1992 (can't remember when, exactly), southbound on the A1 a few miles south of Doncaster. It was an uphill section, and the petrol pipe got blocked as I was overtaking a line of traffic in this 2 lane section. My car stopped, and everything continued rushing past on the inside. I had my wife and small son with me, and I have never been so terrified in my life. Luckily a gap appeared in the traffic, and I was able to roll backwards to the side of the road. If only this poor man had the same luck as I had, he would still be with us today.
Diane Rogers
10:54am on 9/2/2013
Why on earth did he get out of his car. R.I.P poor chap
Adrian Wagstaff
2:01pm on 9/2/2013
To escape from his car which was stuck in the centre of a motorway, so as not to be hit by other vehicles?
blue side
2:13pm on 9/2/2013
Diane a no win situation poor guy and so sad for the family
Diane Rogers
5:42pm on 9/2/2013
Didn't actually say his car had broken down just it had stopped.
shirley sutton
7:07pm on 9/2/2013
Only reason to stop in middle lane is car broke down or you've got a death wish speed on motorways means chances are car would be hit
Steve Marshall
10:34pm on 9/2/2013
Shirley a car doesn't just stop even if the vehicle breaks down you still coast to the hard shoulder also traffic must have been moving quite fast as another 3 vehicles were involved.
Gordon Wright
3:59pm on 10/2/2013
You cannot "coast" from the middle lane if there is a lot of traffic around you. That sort of thing is only possible from the inside lane and even then, you need a lot of luck. Contrary to what some people have said, if traffic is travelling at 70 plus and you suffer a sudden loss of power, the drop in speed is such that you still likely to be hit from behind.