The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)

HGV driver hemmed in by long arm of the Law

- JAMES SIMPSON

Dodgy directions left an English lorry driver trapped at the top of Dundee Law for more than four hours.

The 40-foot low loader was scheduled to deliver undergroun­d pipes near the city landmark.

But after getting lost on the way he asked a passerby for directions who told him “keep heading straight up” and before he knew it his HGV was stuck at the top of the Law.

Police had to seal off the road and bring in specialist machinery to free the lorry.

Speaking at the scene, the driver said he had delivered to Dundee previously, before adding he had “no knowledge of the area” where the load was scheduled dropped.

Emergency services were called when the lorry got stuck at 2.30pm and police waited for hours with the driver until a specialist team arrived to rescue the stricken articulate­d lorry at around 6pm.

The driver said: “I put the postcode in the SatNav and I was a bit concerned by the route. I asked a member of the public and they kept telling me to head straight up.

“Once I got up I tried a few times to move the lorry around the monument but it wouldn’t move.

“I had to call it in for help in getting back out.”

Traffic police remained at the scene until an HGV tow truck eventually arrived to to be assist, as crowds gathered to watch the removal operation.

One of those at the scene was Terry O’shea, accompanie­d by his umbrella cockatoo, Shorty.

The 33-year-old, who lives near Dens Park, said he was shocked to see the trapped lorry, before recording some of the incident on his drone plane.

He added: “Me and Shorty were just in the house and someone sent me the story.

“I was shocked to see the pictures and I came up with the drone and recorded some footage.

“My grandad had a few lorries and I’ve never seen any vehicle in the position this guy was in.”

 ??  ??
 ??  ?? MAROONED WITH A VIEW: An English lorry driver was stranded for four hours at the top of Dundee Law after asking a passerby for directions as he delivered pipes.
MAROONED WITH A VIEW: An English lorry driver was stranded for four hours at the top of Dundee Law after asking a passerby for directions as he delivered pipes.
 ??  ?? Terry O’shea and Shorty who watched the drama unfold on the Law yesterday.
Terry O’shea and Shorty who watched the drama unfold on the Law yesterday.

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