In a dramatic incident on the A13, a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) driver has been fined for crashing into a stationary police car in what Essex Police described as an “avoidable” crash. The incident occurred while police officers were attending to a broken-down BMW on the London-bound carriageway of the A13 between the Stanford-Le-Hope interchange and the Orsett Cock roundabout on the afternoon of Sunday, June 11.
The police officers had strategically placed their Vauxhall Astra police car in a ‘fend off’ position in lane 1, with emergency lights activated, approximately 35 meters from the broken-down vehicle. They had moved all occupants behind the safety barrier at the side of the road to await recovery.
Minutes after the officers positioned themselves behind the barrier, they heard a loud bang. Turning around, they witnessed their marked police car being struck by an HGV. The impact was so severe that it pushed the police vehicle across the carriageway, coming to rest at the central reservation barrier, now facing oncoming traffic.
David Boca, 62, of Torworth Road, Borehamwood, admitted to careless driving when he attended Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, December 13. He was sentenced to nine penalty points, fined £733, and ordered to pay costs.
Mr. Adam Pipe, Essex Police’s Head of Roads Policing, commented on the incident, stating, “Thankfully, no one was injured that day. It doesn’t bear thinking about if someone had been struck by the lorry instead of the car.” He emphasized the importance of the Roads Policing officers’ role in ensuring safety and highlighted that this collision was completely avoidable.
The police car had been positioned to create a safety barrier and act as a warning to prevent incidents. The crash serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by inattentive driving, particularly near breakdowns or where emergency services are operating.
