Black ice chaos on the roads

Freezing temperatures since last weekend have resulted in dozens of road accidents due to dangerous black ice.

Motorists were first caught out by the ice on Saturday morning, the result being a spate of accidents which caused chaos, especially along various points on the A38.

Part of the road at Notter Bridge near Saltash, was blocked for more than three hours after a Royal Mail lorry jackknifed at 7am.

Meanwhile eastbound traffic had to be diverted through Liskeard town centre, after two separate accidents at Moorswater.

Firstly a van owned by A and T Services from St Columb, with three men on board travelling to work, hit a patch of ice and after careering in behind the safety barrier, went up across the bank and landed on its side. One of the men was taken to Treliske Hospital with a head injury and was later released, and the other two escaped with minor cuts and bruises.

Two cars hit the central reservation in the second accident, suffering major damage on the drivers' sides, but again there were no serious injuries. There were also other incidents throughout the area, including a woman driver going off the road on St Cleer Downs. Minor shunts at Menheniot, Torpoint, Tideford and Dobwalls, were among many others, with emergency services stretched to the limit.

At Callington Newbridge on the A390, two off duty ambulances collided with each other at about 4.30am, causing serious damage to the ancient bridge. Temporary traffic lights had to be put into place, and part of the bridge has had to be cordoned off while awaiting repair.

A policewoman who sustained serious injuries after being hit by a car at Ide, near Exeter, has been named as WPC Nicola Kent. She is the 24 year old grandaughter of Mr Ronald Kent of Liskeard, her parents, Desmond and Caroline Kent of Bude, being formerly from St Cleer.

There had been an earlier accident on the A38 near Ide and Miss Kent had been standing on the hard shoulder directing the traffic when a car lost control on the ice and knocked her into a ditch. She suffered head injuries and a broken ankle.