A van driver walked away with only minor injuries after crashing his Transit into riverside barriers and catapulting ACROSS the water to land safely on the other side.

Graham Chappell of the Fenland Road Safety Campaign said he had only recently been made aware of the crash which he described as “an incredible story”.

“I only recently spotted the accident site, and didn’t have time to investigate further at the time, but the people living nearby confirmed it had happened some weeks ago,” he said.

“Local residents described hearing the impact of the van hitting the barrier at 6.00am, one morning, and some weeks before Christmas.”

He said he had now discussed the merits of bringing this bend and the Twenty Foot adjacent road in line with the Sixteen Foot and Forty Foot speed limits of 50mph “which seemed worth pursuing with our colleagues in the Highways Dept.”

He said “They are also interested in modifying the banking on the approach to the junction, improving bend indicator markings and closing off the one of the access points, outside the nearest house, which could allow for additional standard barrier installation on the bend itself.

“Again, it sounded very appropriate to explore this further with Cambs CC Highways colleagues.”

He said Box Beam safety barrier repairs still awaited at Stags Holt, Chain Bridge, Coldham Bank bend on the B1101, between Coldham and March, where the latest crash happened.

One of many successes of the Fenland Road Safety Campaign was improvements to Bedlam Bridge on the B1099, near March.

An £85,000 scheme was funded by the county council and the Fenland Road Safety Campaign after a successful joint bid for funding.

The campaign was launched following the death of a young girl – Charlotte Walker eight years ago.

* Were you the driver of the Transit van or do you know his name? Call our newsroom on 01354 661915 if you know.