Snow chaos as drivers have to spend night in cars
EMERGENCY services closed a stretch of the A30 yesterday after heavy snow stranded motorists in Devon and Cornwall.
After several crashes on the dual carriageway made the road impassable on Sunday, some drivers were forced to spend a night in their cars.
Motorists near Okehampton, Devon, abandoned their vehicles and headed for a “rest centre” in the town, where they were given blankets and allowed to sleep the night.
In total, 64 miles of road from Exeter to Bodmin were closed as the Army was drafted in to pull cars off the carriageway to make way for gritters. The resort of Ilfracombe was “cut off” due to heavy snow, Devon County Council said.
Richard White, volunteer rest centre manager at Okehampton, said: “We first of all provide them with something hot to drink and we’ve got blankets, duvets.
Caution
“We make sure people get a good night’s sleep, we feed them in the morning and weather permitting, we prepare them to get back in their cars and on their way.”
Hospitals appealed to 4X4 drivers for help getting staff to and from work as police told people not to travel.
Yesterday Rob Llewellyn, network operations manager for Highways England, tweeted: “The Highways England teams have worked hard for many hours alongside the police and other partners to get drivers moving on A30.
“Road remains closed but all stranded traffic now released.”
Devon and Cornwall Police added: “A30 Devon and Cornwall closed, significant snow that highways are working to clear.”
And to those stranded on it or returning to their vehicles, he added: “Drive with caution as conditions are changing rapidly from passable to impossible. “If not on it, delay your journey.” Torbay and Royal Devon and Exeter hospitals asked volunteer drivers to contact them. One was England rugby player Don Armand who, just a day after playing at Twickenham, helped ferry snowstranded staff at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital to and from work. The Exeter Chiefs’ flanker joined helpers Lynn Travis and her husband in the rescue mission. Lynn said: “Played for England yesterday and helping the local community today. What a top man.” In Windsor, Berks, former Brookside star Anna Friel opened her home to police dealing with a car crash outside her home. She walked out of her town house with steaming mugs of tea and a packet of biscuits for the officers as temperatures plummeted to below freezing overnight. The 41-year-old dressed, casually in a cream Aran-style jumper and skinny trousers with her hair swept up in a messy pony tail, opened the door to the Thames Valley Police officers on Sunday evening. The two officers later posted on social media that they were “treated to a lovely cup of tea and some biscuits by Anna Friel after a car span on the ice near her house. “Many thanks for the kind words Anna and the goodies!” Anna, currently on television screens as a former London detective in ITV’s Marcella, took to social media and said: “This is why we pay our taxes. “These guys were phenomenal. “Note: Be kind to those that are ready to help; even if you are not involved. #realpolice.”