M55 closed after woman jumps from moving car into the path of HGV

A young woman was seriously hurt after jumping from a moving car and into the path of an HGV on the M55 this morning.
The M55 was closed for several hours earlier this morningThe M55 was closed for several hours earlier this morning
The M55 was closed for several hours earlier this morning

The 24-year-old, from Wiltshire, was the front seat passenger in a Fiat Punto travelling towards Blackpool in the middle lane when she opened the door and jumped out, police said.

She was hit by a Daf truck being driven in the inside lane and suffered a broken pelvis, broken leg, and multiple other injuries, at around 12.30am.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She was taken to Royal Preston Hospital where she is fighting for her life, police said.

Her condition was initially described by police as being in a serious but not life threatening.

The HGV driver, a 38-year-old man from Bootle in Merseyside, was unhurt.

All three carriageways were closed between junction one for Preston and three for Kirkham and Fleetwood while a probe was launched and debris cleared away.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Drivers caught up in the incident's aftermath were led off the motorway by officers, who tweeted to tell them to stay inside their vehicles.

The road was reopened at around 5.20am.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said it is not believed the woman was being held against her will, but said it was unclear why she jumped.

Sgt Malcolm Bell from the Road Policing Unit said: "This incident has left a woman with serious injuries and we would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed what happened and has not yet spoken to us to get in touch as soon as possible."

Witnesses have been asked to call 101, quoting reference number 0023 of November 27, 2015.

Related topics: