The tailback on the A47 near Dereham and Swaffham.
UPDATE: A47 in Swaffham reopened after three-vehicle crash involving 15,000 partridges
Friday, August 10, 2012
1:27 PM
The A47 near Swaffham has fully reopened following a three-vehicle collision this morning that killed 100 partridges and left two people in hospital.
A lorry, a tanker and a truck collided at 6.45am, causing tailbacks in both direction between the A1065 Castleacre Road junction in Swaffham and the A1075 South Green junction in East Dereham.
Two other vehicles were damaged by debris from the crash.
Police said that, contrary to earlier reports, two people were taken to King’s Lynn Hospital complaining of neck and back pain. Their injuries are not believed to be serious.
Police said one vehicle was carrying 15,000 partridges, and an officer at the scene estimated that about 100 of them were killed in the collision.
Fire crews from Watton, Dereham and King’s Lynn attended the scene, along with the environmental protection unit from Sprowston, to deal with any potential chemical leak from the tanker on to the road.
Police put diversions in place and the Highways Agency was notified, but drivers had been warned to expect delays and to avoid the area if possible.
Commuters reported delays as far as 12 miles away from the crash site, with tailbacks affecting drivers travelling from King’s Lynn into Swaffham and from Norwich to Dereham.
Were you caught in this morning’s tailbacks? Leave your comment below or submit your photographs through our content-sharing website www.iwitness24.co.uk
ADVERTISEMENT
4 comments
My lorry was loaded with chickens and the engine broke down. I had to call a garage out to fix it. I asked the fitter what the trouble was. HE said “It is either your clucks or big hens. The day later I was carting onions and the trailer jack-knifed. There was a warning on the radio for other drivers to “use the hard shoulder to cry on.
Report this comment
Choice
Saturday, August 11, 2012
The comment below-" this section between the McDonalds roundabout and Necton is notorious for accidents blocking both lanes". Since when has this section of road become notorious for accidents? I think you're getting confused with the A11 at Elveden!
Report this comment
Emerald.venom
Friday, August 10, 2012
I agree with Daisy Roots. I arrived at Necton about an hour after the accident and the police presence on the Norwich side was almost zero. No signs at all and we had to resort to doing U-turns back to Necton and finding our own way round the "unknown blockage". Even worse, this section between the McDonalds roundabout and Necton is notorious for accidents blocking both lanes, the Police should have no excuse for not having a well rehearsed action plans when they shut this section. There has to be a better default plan than funnel everyone through North Pickenham and Holme Hale. The Nth Pickenham road became grid-locked by idiotic HGV drivers and National Express coaches trying to get down country lanes and getting stuck when they mounted teh soft verges trying to pass each other. Police need to react quicker to incidents like this. The diversion route for HGVs should either be up to the A149 Fakenham Road or down to the MundfordSTANTA road. Irrespective of the plight of the people caught up in the carnage, leaving hundreds of HGVs to find their own unoffical detour is just plain stupid.
Report this comment
Lucioperca
Friday, August 10, 2012
Three times this year I have had to make lengthy detours when turned off a major route just after an accident has happened and before diversion signs had been put in place. Each time it would have been of enormous help if the PCs directing traffic had been able to display a white board with the location of the accident or how far ahead the accident was or an indication of where to rejoin the main road. This would let motorists use their maps or sat nav to take them back to the route beyond the site of the accident. It cannot always be taken for granted that traffic is turned off at a junction immediately before an accident.
Report this comment
Daisy Roots
Friday, August 10, 2012