Car passenger cut free in M62 smash

Two lanes of the M62 westbound were closed this afternoon whilst the emergency services dealt with a 2 car crash. One vehicle a Ford KA had been left on it's side as a result  of the smash. The other a Ford possibly a Focus had to have the roof removed in order to extricate the female occupant.

Emergency services with Fire crews removing the roof to release the trapped casualty

Fire crews from Brighouse, Elland and Cleckheaton attended the incident at around 12:50 today (25/04/2015). The incident was between junctions 26 at Chain Bar and 25 Brighouse. Ambulance paramedics along with ambulance crews, Police and Highways agency also attended the scene. 

Fire crews proceed to remove the roof to release casualty

Fire crews well rehearsed in extraction techniques worked with paramedics until the casualty was removed safely from the vehicle on a back board to an awaiting ambulance.

Crews make the scene safe

Fire crews made the vehicles safe. Traffic built up on the approach to the accident from Junction 27 however a full road closure was not required and a steady flow was maintained throughout the incident.

Serious RTC on M62 Hartshead leaves two seriously injured

Scene of the collision on the M62 Westbound carriageway

At around 9:00pm last night Fire, Police and Ambulance attended a serious Road Traffic Collision on the westbound carriageway of the M62 between Junction 26 and the Hartshead moor services. The collision between three cars left a person trapped who had to be cut free by the fire service. Damage to two of the vehicles was severe.

Fire appliances from Odsal, Cleckheaton and Brighouse attended.

 A Vauxhall Zafira was driven eastbound along the westbound carriageway having exited the service station by the entry slip road. There was then a collision between it and an Audi A1 and a Ford Kuga which were travelling westbound.

One of the vehicles from the collision with crews in attendance

 The drivers of the Zafira (a 37 year old male from Bradford  and the Audi A1 (a 40 year old woman from the Holmfirth area) - were injured as a result of the collision and taken to Leeds General Infirmary by ambulance. A 29-year-old man from Ilkley, who was driving the Ford Kuga, was treated at the scene for slight injuries.
Both casualties in hospital are reported to be in stable conditions and are not thought to have suffered life threatening injuries. 
The carriageway was reopened at around 03:00am this morning 15th October

Police are appealing for anyone who may have information or saw the collision to contact them on the 101 number

Terrorist coach bombing on the M62 victims remembered

M62 Hartshead Moor bombing victims remembered

Scene of the explosion on the M26 1974

A wreath has been laid today to commemorate the 12 victims which also included two young children, killed in a terrorist coach bombing on the M62 on February 4th 1974. The 50lb bomb - planted on board the vehicle in Manchester - destroyed it, killing an entire family-of-four.

Those who died are remembered:
Cpl Terence Griffin, 24, Gnr Leonard Godden, 22, Sgmn Michael Waugh, 23, Sgmn Leslie Walsh, 17, Sgmn Paul Reid, 17, L/Cpl James McShane, 29, Fus Jack Hynes, 20, and Fus Stephen Whalley, 18, all died in the blast.
Linda Houghton, 24, the wife of Cpl Houghton and the couple's two sons Lee, five, and Robert, two, were also killed.

The coach was taking soldiers and their families from Manchester to Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire when it exploded.
The bombing was suspected to have been by the Provisional IRA.
A memorial of Yorkshire stone was unveiled in the garden in 2009 to replace a plaque inside the service station.
The original was moved to the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7870136.stm

The memorial to those killed by an IRA bomb on the M62 motorway being unveiled at the Hartshead Moor services.

 Tributes to coach driver who helped save lives in 1974 attack which killed 12 people

The motorway memorial will also pay tribute to the life of the coach driver who survived the bombing atrocity. Roland Handley was behind the wheel of a coach targeted by the suspected IRA bombers in 1974.

The coach was carrying off-duty service personnel and relatives from Manchester to an Army base at Catterick, North Yorkshire, when a 50lb bomb left in a luggage locker detonated near Bradford as they slept. More than 50 others were injured.
Mr Handley, who was injured by flying glass, was hailed as a hero for bringing the coach safely to a halt. He died, aged 76, after a short illness in January last year in North Yorkshire.
Relatives of the victims join soldiers and veterans every year at a memorial service held around a remembrance plaque at Hartshead Services, off the westbound carriageway of the motorway.
This year a memorial tree will be planted by a charity at the site in Mr Handley’s memory.
The service – to include wreath-laying and the Last Post was held today in their memory.