Quick-thinking lorry driver praised (From Hereford Times)

Quick-thinking lorry driver praised

12:43pm Friday 9th February 2007

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FIREFIGHTERS attended a lorry fire close to a notorious Herefordshire accident blackspot.

The blaze, which caused extensive damage to the articulated lorry's trailer, broke out between Ashton and Woofferton on the A49 on Thursday night around 11.55pm.

The lorry driver pulled into a layby and two crews from Tenbury Wells extinguished the fire.

"The bed of the trailer and its curtains caught alight and the fire was going well with half the trailer on fire," said David James, sub-officer at Tenbury Fire Station.

"The lorry driver's quick thinking saved the whole unit as he detached the cab from the trailer.

"Fortunately, the trailer was empty or we would have had a much bigger mess but it was pretty badly damaged with the tyres and wheels starting to melt."

The lorry driver, who was from north Wales, pulled over after hearing a bang. He then noticed in his mirror that a tyre was on fire.

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