Two cut free in meat lorry crash drama

The Dutch vehicle was heading for Eastbourne when it crashed and fell through hedges.

The trunk road from Bexhill to Eastbourne was blocked from 6pm until 5.30 the following morning.

Twenty firefighters were called to the scene to free the passengers, along with police officers.

The first casualty was removed and taken to the Conquest Hospital by police helicopter by 6.40pm with suspected fractures, the other trapped for a further two hours.

The driver's leg was "severely trapped" according to assistant divisional fire officer Neal Robinson.

But medical attention and strategic movements by firefighters saved the driver from the possibility of amputation.

He was also taken to the Conquest with fractures.

Sergeant Keith Ellis of Bexhill Road Policing Department said: "The investigation is ongoing and we will be interviewing the driver to find out the cause of the accident."

Police officers removed 20 tons of frozen meat from the lorry to allow it to be righted and the road re-opened.

Seeboard was called to switch off power supplies, but these had already been knocked out when the lorry brought down an electricity pole.