A RUNAWAY lorry hit three vehicles on a busy Lepton road, injuring a woman.
The lorry was parked on Wakefield Road at 12.30pm yesterday when the handbrake apparently failed.
The driver was out of the cab and the lorry, which was heading towards Waterloo, rolled away and hit three vehicles travelling in the opposite direction.
The first vehicle, a camper van, was turned on its side by the impact and a Barnsley woman suffered a knee injury.
The other two vehicles were cars.
Ambulance crews went to the scene, but no-one else was injured.
Pc Darren Dacosta, of Huddersfield traffic police, said: "The camper van slowed the lorry down and cushioned the blow for the other two vehicles.
"The handbrake on the lorry failed for some reason which is as yet unknown. It is being investigated."
Firefighters from Cleckheaton, Elland, Mirfield and Skelmanthorpe made the scene safe by disconnecting the lorry's batteries and clearing away spilled fuel.
The road was closed while the accident scene was cleared.
Anyone who saw the incident is asked to contact Pc Sarah Baker on 01484 436847.
* Thieves broke into a compound and stole a lorry loaded with metal poles.
The intruders took the vehicle from Young's Transport on Red Doles Lane, Bradley Mills, between 4pm yesterday and 3.45am today.
The Leyland lorry is white and its number is R286 MVN.
Phone Huddersfield CID on 01484 436582.
