Close call for van driver in ring-road railings smash

A van teeters over the edge of a bridge after careering off Canterbury’s Rheims Way on Monday.

The breakdown vehicle needed recovering itself after it ploughed through railings near the St Peter’s roundabout.

It had been travelling London-bound when it crossed onto the opposite side of the road and hit the metal barriers at about 11.15am.

A witness, who was working nearby when he heard the bang, said: “I turned round to see it hanging over the edge.

“I ran straight up onto the bridge to check on the driver.

“I was third on the scene and could see the tyre tracks on the bridge. The driver had come round the roundabout and flown over the central divider before coming to rest just off the side of the bridge.”

The bridge runs over the riverside pedestrian path between Westgate Gardens and the Toddler’s Cove play area.

The area beneath it was cordoned off while emergency services dealt with the incident.

A police spokesman said: “A white Ford Transit panel van was travelling on the London-bound carriageway between the St Peter’s Place roundabout and the London Road roundabout when it crossed the carriageway and collided with railings on the bridge over the River Stour on the opposite side of the road.

“The driver of the van was not reported to have suffered any injuries.”

Police shut off the area below the bridge, as well as the road above, while the van was recovered.

The vehicle belongs to Recovery Reliance - a breakdown and recovery firm based in Tunbridge Wells.

It did not wish to comment when contacted by the Gazette, but said the male driver was uninjured.