Drivers have been warned to only travel where necessary after a spate of multi-vehicle crashes in Cornwall. Emergency services were called to the scene of at least six crashes on the A30 yesterday, Monday, January 6, with icy conditions being thought to be one of the chief contributors to drivers losing control of their vehicles.
Today, Tuesday, January 7, there has been another crash involving three-vehicles, on the A30 near Cardinham. Police were called to the scene around 10.50am and closed the westbound carriageway for recovery work to take place.
One person is reported to have suffered minor injuries and has been taken to Bodmin Minor Injuries Unit. As well as the three vehicles involved in the crash, a further four vehicles became stuck on the icy road and have had to be recovered. Follow our live blog here for the latest updates.
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “We were called to various road traffic collisions on the A30 on Monday 6 January during the adverse weather. These included damage only incidents at Temple, Fourwinds, Launceston, Okehampton and Bodmin.”
“Police were called to reports of three separate collisions involving four vehicles on the A30 at Scorrier, near Redruth, at around noon on Monday 6 January. It was reported there had been a hail storm in the area. Local road closures were put in place. Some slight injuries were reported. The road was fully reopened at around 2.55pm.”
At the time of this incident, CornwallLive reported how there was a freak hailstorm, causing the road to become wet and icy. Pictures taken from the scene show a vehicle in a hedge after it careered off the A30 near Redruth.
Around 4pm, another crash on the A30, near Bodmin, caused long delays. The multi-vehicle crash near Preeze Cross happened on the westbound carriageway but had cleared just before 5pm.
Later on Monday, at around 7.44pm, police were called to the scene of an eight-car pile-up at Camborne. Luckily only one man suffered minor facial injuries, but a stretch of the A30 westbound was closed until 10.20pm while vehicles were recovered.
Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Police were called at 7.45pm on Monday 6 January following a multi-vehicle collision on the A30 westbound at Camborne. The collision involved eight cars near to Camborne West junction. One man sustained minor facial injuries. The fire service and Highways also attended. The westbound carriageway was closed and opened again at 10.20pm.”
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service also attended the Camborne crash, adding there was a second crash at the same location, on the eastbound carriageway. The eastbound crash involved a single vehicle that left the road and ended up in a field.
The fire service said: “It was reported that both incidents were likely the result of a heavy, localised hail storm.”
Despite yesterday’s A30 crashes including vehicles leaving the road and an eight-vehicle pile-up, there have only been reports of minor injuries. But the spate of crashes yesterday has prompted a warning from Devon and Cornwall Police as motorists have been told to travel only if necessary due to the dangerous driving conditions.
A police spokesman said: “The A30 in Cornwall is being especially affected by icy conditions and snow; we have responded to several traffic collisions involving multiple vehicles in the last couple of days.
“We would appeal to motorists to check local weather forecasts before setting off and drive carefully, especially in adverse conditions. During periods covered by a weather warning we would advise motorists to please stay safe and only travel if absolutely necessary.”
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow across parts of Cornwall. The warning is in place from 9am until 11.59pm tomorrow (Wednesday, January 8) and it is expected that there will be widespread disruption to travel.