Tyre-change man leaps to safety from lorry’s path

The 42-year-old man, a building surveyor from Manchester, who was on his way to Sunderland, had stopped to change a tyre on the A1, near Wetherby, when he turned to see the lorry heading straight for him.

North Yorkshire Police said the driver hurdled the crash barrier at the side of the motorway just before the vehicle crashed into his car.

The accident happened just after 8.30am on Monday when the man stopped his Mazda 323 on the hard shoulder of the northbound A1, just one mile north of junction 46.

He was looking for a spare tyre in the boot of his vehicle when he looked over his shoulder to see the Scania lorry and leapt out of the way.

His car was written off in the crash. Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.

Traffic Constable Rob Roberts, of Harrogate Roads Policing Group, said: “The motorist had an extremely lucky escape and fortunately he was uninjured in the incident.

“Something told him to look over his shoulder and if he hadn’t, we could have been dealing with an extremely tragic outcome.

“I am appealing to anyone who saw the collision or saw the red lorry prior to the incident to contact the police with information.”

No one has been arrested in connection with the collision. Police say they have spoken to the lorry driver who stopped at the scene.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “It was a very narrow escape indeed.

“He looked over his shoulder – he doesn’t know why – and the lorry was closing in on him, just a car and a half length away.”

Anyone who can help the police with their enquiries is urged to contact TC Rob Roberts, of Harrogate Roads Policing Group, on 0845 60 60 24 7, quoting reference number 12110159309.