Hospital campaigners have reiterated their fears over traffic chaos hitting ambulance transfers.
They cited yesterday’s crash on the M62 as a prime example of what could happen if Huddersfield Royal Infirmary’s A&E unit is downgraded as proposed in controversial plans.
Drivers were held up for hours on choked roads all around Huddersfield and Calderdale as the westbound carriageway of the busy motorway was closed for several hours after a crash.
Sadly, a lorry driver collapsed and died at the wheel of a car transporter.
He lost control of the vehicle at Scammonden and slewed into a crash barrier on the dam above the reservoir.
Luckily no other vehicles were involved but police had to close the carriageway until well into the evening. That had a massive effect on roads all over the area with traffic crawling along in queues up to eight miles long.
The identity of the victim has not yet been released and investigations are continuing into the crash.
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Campaigners who are fighting to stop A&E services being shifted to Calderdale Royal Hospital took to social media to point out the chaos caused by the M62 shutdown.
Karl Deitch: With this notoriously awful stretch of motorway close to Huddersfield, having no A&E here would prove to be absolutely fatal #handsoffhri
John Leslie Tatchell: There’s always an accident on there hardly a week goes by without at least 1 prang
Ian Bagshaw: More terrible news. Now would be a good time to do a timed A&E run to CRH to highlight the increased congestion problems at Ainley Top Roundabout related to these events.
Lorraine Wolfenden: It would take ages at the moment to get to Calderdale. I live in Rastrick and when M62 is shut it very quickly becomes gridlocked as do many other roads around the area.
Sam Wonelse: Statistically there are more accidents on the M62 between Hudds and Leeds than any other stretch of motorway in Britain.
Kierlan Morgan: This is scary #HandsoffHRI
John Popham: All westbound traffic is being diverted through Halifax. There would be no chance of getting to A&E at Calderdale this afternoon hLike · 1 · 2 hrs
Amanda Elliott: 2nd accident today on that stretch. It was closed this morning too.
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Andrea Lawford: Our thoughts are with the family of the driver....but this highlights what will happen again if we have to go to Calderdale...hands off A&E
Derek Hessey: Traffic off at j24 and directed to Sowerby Bridge down Elland bypass.. guess what.. road now solid.. no hope of getting to halifax in a hurry (or slowly). i am told a road ambulance was sent up the access road J23 and on to Huddersfield a&e.
Stephanie Ainley: I would like to know what travel time to Halifax from Hudds was at rush hour today. My 30 minute journey from work to home (Drighlington to Huddersfield ) took me and hour and a half. I was due to take my daughter to a dance class in Halifax but didn’t bother knowing traffic would be a nightmare still and we would more than likely be late.
