A FENLAND driver had a lucky escape last Thursday after his car left the road and crashed into a pole holding up high voltage electricity cables. The collision happened on the A605 between Coates and March at about 8.45am, when the man lost control of hi

A FENLAND driver had a lucky escape last Thursday after his car left the road and crashed into a pole holding up high voltage electricity cables.

The collision happened on the A605 between Coates and March at about 8.45am, when the man lost control of his silver Renault Clio car on a bend and collided with the wooden pole, causing it to snap in half.

With up to 11,000 volts of electricity balancing precariously on a single pole above him, the man managed to crawl to safety, aided by passers-by who stopped their cars to help.

When fire crews from Whittlesey and Dogsthorpe arrived at 8.55am they could see the possible dangers and quickly led the small crowd to a safe distance in case the pole snapped and the cables came crashing down onto the road.

Fire crews remained at the scene until EDF workers arrived to turn the electricity supply off and fix the pole. However, the road itself was closed for more than five hours.

The driver, who is believed to have suffered non life-threatening injuries was taken to Peterborough District Hospital by ambulance.

Ady Slack, station manager for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "This man had a very lucky escape indeed. All I can say is that the heavens must have been smiling on him.

"When we arrived on the scene our immediate job was to ensure the safety of the crews and the members of the public. This included the injured man himself and those who had stopped to help.

"We led them to a safe distance, about 100m away, in case the remaining pole snapped.

"We would like to thank those who stopped to help this man and their actions and co-operation throughout the incident deserves much praise.