Woman crushed by falling shop sign on New Street, Huddersfield

Jun 5 2010 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

AN elderly shopper screamed in agony after she was crushed by a collapsing store sign in Huddersfield town centre.

Health and safety inspectors are investigating after the 79-year-old woman was hit by the heavy metal sign after it fell from above the door of the New Street shop yesterday afternoon.

Passersby and staff from nearby shops rushed to the woman’s aid as she lay trapped at about 3.45pm.

She was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary by ambulance with injuries that are believed to be serious. It is understood she may have spinal injuries.

Yvonne Hutchinson, who was walking past the shop – thought to be a newly-occupied home furnishings outlet next to Oxfam – said: “There were about six people trying to help her.

“I was told that she had been hit on the head and then she was trapped.

“The sign had knocked her over and pinned her down.

“She wasn’t moving for a while and they thought she might have passed away, but then she started screaming.