A woman was in hospital last night after a crash drama on one of Huddersfield’s busiest roads.
The female pillion passenger suffered a broken leg after the motorbike on which she was riding collided with a private hire taxi on Leeds Road at midday yesterday.
Police sealed off the busy A62 in both directions for more than 200 yards close to the Syngenta premises, while several ambulances, police cars and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance arrived at the scene.
It remained closed for more than two hours while rescuers worked at the scene.
After an hour and a half of intricate preparation, paramedics were finally ready to stretcher the injured 54-year-old woman 35 yards into the waiting air ambulance.
The helicopter had landed on the large grass frontage in front of the Syngenta main office block.
Just after 1.30pm it took off from Leeds Road for the short journey to Leeds General Infirmary.
The male rider of the motorcycle escaped with minor injuries which left him with a slight limp.
He was given first aid at the scene by paramedics.
The driver of the taxi was shaken but uninjured.
Det Insp Andy Leonard, of West Yorkshire Police, said the injured woman came from Macclesfield.
She and the rider had been travelling along Leeds Road with another motorcycle when the accident occurred.
He said: “The taxi driver is helping police with their enquiries. He has not been arrested.”
Insp Dave Peach, who has responsibility for Southern Area Roads Policing in West Yorkshire, added: “Obviously we are still trying to piece together exactly what happened.”
Bus services were diverted while the road remained closed.
There was also disruption for soccer fans heading for the Huddersfield Town v Leeds United Development game at the Canalside complex but the match went ahead as planned.
The road reopened around 2.45pm.
