Road Closed in Brixham

Following an incident in Brixham in which a pedestrian was knocked down at the traffic lights at Bank Lane the road was closed from 13:35 until about 18:15. I had left Bank Lane at 13:31 and was half way up New Road when the driver of a number 22 got on the radio and said there was a problem. A little later the driver of the number 12 that was, or should have been running behind me reported that the police had closed the road. This is usual practice when someone has been hurt. A team of forensic officers come down and examine the scene in detail in an attempt to determine exactly what happened and if possible decide who was to blame. This had a serious effect on the running of the number 12s for the rest of the afternoon. Later, at about 18:00 I returned to Brixham and the road was still closed. Two number 12s were still stuck in the Town Square and had been since 13:35. Had I been a few minutes later I too would have been stuck. As it was 3 buses arrived in Brixham at more or less the same time. We turned round on the main road, a little bit of shunting back and forth, The other two buses headed of for Newton but I knew that the next bus into Brixham was still in Torquay, 35 minutes away. I also knew that I would have enough running time now the evening rush was over to be able to wait an extra 15 minutes so the gap between myself and the next bus would not be too big. I contacted control and they said OK to wait. By the time I finished an hour and a half later I was back on time. The roads had been very quiet due to the not so good weather we are having at the moment so catching up hadn't been a problem.

From the Herald Express.

WOMAN TRAPPED UNDER LORRY

BY LIZ PHILLIPSLPHILLIPS 19 June 2008
An 89-year-old woman was due to undergo surgery in hospital after suffering serious injuries when she was trapped under a truck.The accident happened as the elderly woman was crossing a Brixham town centre crossroads yesterday afternoon.She collided with the 12-wheel truck and ended up trapped underneath by her legs.Yesterday afternoon's drama brought traffic at the Bolton Cross junction to a standstill, as pharmacy staff, nearby doctors from St Luke's medical centre and passers-by rushed to her aid.

The shocked lorry driver, in his 30s, works for Cornish-based Steve Wills Haulage.Police confirm the woman was walking, pushing her wheeled shopping basket, from the rear of Threshers off-licence towards a pedestrian refuge in the middle of Brixham's busiest junction when the accident happened.Web manager Mark Lakeman of Mission Adventuresports, whose office overlooks the junction near Brixham library, said: "I first heard screaming, and then saw a young couple rush towards a small wheeled trolley trapped against a bollard."Then I realised someone was hurt and underneath the vehicle."After that, everyone did what they could, including directing traffic, until the 999 services arrived, which was only minutes. They were really quick."Police are appealing for witnesses to the 1.45pm incident, which closed the port's busiest junction for several hours and completely disrupted bus services.Sgt Ivan Kingdon said yesterday afternoon they were not sure if the casualty was local.A family liaison officer was at the hospital shortly after she arrived by ambulance."We would appreciate the help of the public," the sergeant added."Her injuries are life-changing, and we are awaiting the arrival of a police accident investigator."The driver is helping with inquiries. The tachograph on the lorry is important and the vehicle cannot be driven, so we are arranging for a tow to the duty garage."

Police said later the woman's injuries were not thought to be life-threatening, and she was due to undergo surgery.It is understood the CCTV camera in Fore Street does not cover the Bank Lane area.Mr Lakeman said that pedestrian safety needed improving in Bank Lane.The one-way system accommodated cars, coaches, buses, taxis, fish lorries, delivery trucks and construction traffic for the Dean and Dyball regeneration scheme on the dockside.Mr Lakeman added: "It's the only part of the busy junction without a pelican-controlled crossing, and you see near misses every day."It nearly turned into a double tragedy as an elderly man tripped in New Road outside the Bolton Hotel and fell in front of a moving white van just after the woman had been injured.He was quickly picked up by other spectators and, apart from a bruised knee, was not seriously hurt.

Eye-witnesses are being asked to contact police on 08452 777444 quoting log 483 of June 18.